El Paso Central

Appraisal District

f'ilN.
CEAA

,JII

fr.r

II'J

CERTTFICATE OF EXCEI"INCE }N

A55E95MENT ASMIHISTft ATION

Reappraisal Plan
201 5 r 20L6

Table of Contents

Comp1iance...............
Decision

L.5. Standards

ll.

Revaluation

lll.

Analysis of Available

Resources...

3.2 Fiscal Resources

Systems.................
3.4 Contracted Appraisals ................
3.5 lmpact of Legislation ................
IV. Planning and Organization...........
4.1 ParcelCount.........
4.2 Production Standards .................
4.3 Calendar of Events
4.4 Performance Objectives.............
3.3 lnformation

5.1 lnformation Systems......

5.2 AppraisalPractices.....
5.3 Data Collection and Processing Needs
5.3.1 ComputerAssisted Mass AppraisalSystem..
5.3.2 Geographic Data
5.3.3 Property Characteristics Data.
5.4 Real Property Valuation
5.5 Personal Property Valuation
5.7
5.8

Process
Mapping and GIS.......
Hearing

...................,..10
......L1

.....,12

.........13
........................L4
.....................L4
.......................14
......16
........................16
......................16
........................16

......................t7

...........19
...............19
.........20
.....................20
........................2L
......................2L
.............2L
......22

......22
................22

Process
7.1.1 New Construction/Demolition
7.LData Collection

7.L.2 Re-inspection of the Universe of Properties

................24
......................24

............

.........24

7.1.3 Field or Office Verification of Sales Data and Property Characteristics........................................25

............
Data

....................26

7.3 lncome and Expense Data

7.4 Cost and Deprecation

..........26

Vlll. Production of Values........

...............28

Models
8.3 The Cost Approach .........,....,
8.4 The Sales Comparison Approach................
8.5 The lncome Approach ...........:........
8.6 Land Valuation....
8.7 Considerations by Property Type ...........
lX. Preparation of Appraisal Ro11.......
X. Defense of Values....
Xl. Maintenance of Property Data............
Xll. Mass Appraisal and Annual Reports.......

.......................,.28

8.2 Valuation

Appendix B: Ratio

......30
..,...,...........33
......34
..........36
......38
......4O

.................41
...............42

Studies

Appendix C: Organizational Chart and Department Calendar of

2014-2015
E: Capitol Appraisal Group

Appendix D: Budget
Appendix

........29

Reports
Reports

Appendix G: Mass Appraisal

Appendix H: Annual

................;....,43

Events

......,....43
..,..........43
.........................43

......43
...................43

Executive Summary
The El Poso Centrol Approisol District (EPCAD) has prepored ond published this reappraisal plan

in accordance with Texos Property Tax Code Sections 6.05 (i) and 25.18, which requires the
Appraisal District's Board of Directors to approve a reappraisal plan by September L5 of each
even numbered year for the next two years. The purpose of the plan is to provide our Board of
Directors, toxing entities, citizens and toxpoyers with a better understanding of the District's
responsibilities ond reappraisal activities.

for local property tox oppraisal and exemption administrotion for all taxing
jurisdictions within the County of El Paso. The Texas Property Tox Code, except as otherwise
provided, states that all taxoble property is approised at its "morket valt)e" as of Jonuary L".
EPCAD is responsible

Llnder the tax code, "morket value" is defined as the price a property would transfer

for cosh or

its equivalent under prevailing market conditions if:

.
.
o

exposed

for sale in the open market with a reasonoble time for seller

to

find

o purchaser

and:

both the seller ond the buyer know of all the uses and purposes to which the property is
adapted and for which it is capable of being used and the enforceable restrictions on its
use, and;
both the seller and buyer seek to moximize their gains and neither is in o position to take
odvantage of the exigencies ofthe other.

The Texas Property Tax Code calls

for a reopproisal of property ot least once every three

years.

Because of 2009 legislation, foreclosures must now be considered in establishing morket value
of homesteaded properties. ln 2006, the overage value of a single fomily home increased 16%.

ln 20LL, the average market value of o single fomily home was flat. ln 2012, overqge reol estate
values in El Paso County fell. This was because of the number of foreclosures on the morket. ln
201-3, average real estate values were

flot.

The morket is not likely to change significontly in the

next two yeors given current economic conditions. Subject to 2075 legislative action, 20L5 will
be a complete reappraisal and 20L6 will be a review of neighborhoods and property types to

mointain morket value. The statutory requirements for completing, reporting ond approving
this plan are found in Appendix A.
This plan may be modified to meet the requirements

of this office and the Statutes of the State

of Texas.
Dinah L. Kilgore
Executive Director/Ch ief Appra iser

lPage

Performance Analysis

The assessment of performance compared to expectations is based on data from July 701,4,
following the certification of the 2014 appraisal roll. The performance analysis serves to
determine if the district's property values are equitable and consistent in the market.
EPCAD uses ratio studies in addition to the bi-annual ratio study prepared by the Property
Tax Assistance Division, available in January of each odd-numbered year, on each of the
residential valuation neighborhoods and school districts (lSD) in the district to evaluate
performance. A ratio study uses sales or independent reliable data to compare appraised
values to market value.

The study judges the two primary aspects of mass appraisal accuracy- Ievel of appraisal
and uniformity of value. The level of accuracy is the typical ratio at which properties are
appraised while uniformity determines the fair and equitable treatment of the individual
properties.
1.1. Uniformity
The methodology used in the property value study includes stratified samples to improve
sample representativeness and techniques or procedures for measuring uniformity. This
study utilizes statistical analysis of sold properties (sale ratio studies) and appraisals of
unsold properties (appraisal ratio studies) as a basis for assessment ratio reporting.
The data collected from ratio studies of all single family residential improved sales indicates
that overall and school district uniformity is within tolerances. There are some
neighborhoods that may need local adjustments.
L.2. Accuracy
For appraisal districts, the reported measures include median level of appraisal, coefficient
of dispersion (COD), the percentage of properties within t0% of the median, the percentage
of properties within 25% of the median, and price-related differential (PRD) for properties
overall andbystatecategory(i.e.,categories A,B,C,DandF1 aredirectlyapplicabletoreal
property).
The data collected from ratio studies of all single family residential improved sales indicates
that overall and school district uniformity is within tolerances. There are some
neighborhoods that may need local adjustments.

1.3 Ratio Studies

Appraisal statistics of central tendency and dispersion generated from time-adjusted sales
ratios are conducted on each market area. EPCAD defines a market area as a homogeneous
group of properties of the same characteristics. A market area is typically a neighborhood.
However, the performance analysis looks at regions, independent school districts (lSDs) as
well as property categories. ln cases where there is insufficient sales, data from similar
neighborhood delineations are used to analyze results.

5lPage

These summary statistics including, but not limited to, the weighted mean, median,
standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and coefficient of dispersion provide the
appraisers the tools by which to determine both the level and uniformity of appraised value
on a stratified market area or neighborhood basis.
The level of appraised values is determined by the weighted mean for individual properties
within a neighborhood, and a comparison of neighborhood weighted means reflects the
general level of appraised value between comparable neighborhoods. Review of the
coefficient of dispersion, price-related differential (PRD) and median level of appraisal
discerns appraisal uniformity within and between stratified neighborhoods.
To assist the reader the following are definitions of the statistics used:

Weighted Mean/Weighted Average: An average in which each value is adjusted by a factor

reflecting its relative importance in the whole before the values are summed and divided by their
number.

Median: A measure of central tendency. The value of the middle item in an uneven number of
items arranged or arrayed according to size; the arithmetic average of the two central items in an
even number of items similarly arranged; a positional average that is not affected by the size of
extreme values.

Standard Deviation: The statistic calculated from a set of numbers by subtracting the mean from
each value and squaring the remainders, adding together all the squares, dividing by the size of the
sample less one, and taking the square root of the result. When the data are normally distributed,
one can calculate the percentage of observations within any number of standard deviations of the
mean from normal probability tables. When the data are not normally distributed, the standard
deviation is less meaningful, and one should proceed cautiously.

Coefficient of Variation: A standard statistical measure of the relative dispersion of the sample
data about the mean of the data; the standard deviation expressed as a percentage of the mean.
Dispersion: The average deviation of a group of numbers from the median
expressed as a percentage of the median. ln ratio studies, the average percentage deviation from
the median ratio.

Coefficient

of

Price-related Differential: The mean divided by the weighted mean. The statistic has a slight bias
upward. Price-related differentials above 1.03 tend to indicate assessment regressivity; price-related
differentials below 0.98 tend to indicate assessment progressivity.
Median Level of Appraisal/Levelof Appraisal: The common, or overall, ratio of appraised
valuesto marketvalues. Three concepts are usually of interest: the level required by law, the
true or actual level, and the computed level, based on a ratio study.
The statisticalsummary is shown in the ratio study by ISD results in Figure L.1.

Figure 7,7 Rdtio Study, ofter Certification, luly 2074

Market Area

Coefficient of
Dispersion

PRD

Median

EL PASO COUNTY

7.7006

1.0088

1.0034

ANTHONY ISD

7.9091

1.0139

1.0574

CANUTILLO ISD

6.5173

1.0036

0.9967

CLINT ISD

7.5464

1.0036

1.0201

EL PASO ISD

7.0790

7.0097

1.0000

FABENS ISD*

N/A

N/A

N/A

SAN ELIZARIO ISD

5.9247

1.0001

1.0166

socoRRo tsD

6.8465

1.0045

1.0085

TORNILLO ISD*

N/A

N/A

N/A

YSLETA ISD

7.6440

1.0100

1.0082

*Note: There were insufficient sales in both the Fabens and Tornillo

A complete summary is found in Appendix

lSDs.

B.

The analyst, through the sales ratio analysis process, reviews every neighborhood annually.
The first phase involves neighborhood ratio studies that compare the recent sales prices of
neighborhood properties to the appraised values of these sold properties. This set of ratio
studies affords the appraiser an excellent means of judging the present level of appraised

value and uniformity of the sales. The analyst, based on the sales ratio statistics and
designated parameters for valuation update, makes a preliminary decision as to whether
the value level in a neighborhood needs to be updated in an upcoming reappraisal, or
whether the level of market value in a neighborhood is at an acceptable level.
Neighborhood factors, or market area adjustment, are developed from appraisal statistics
provided from ratio studies and are used to ensure that estimated values are consistent
with the market. The district's primary approach to the valuation of residential properties
uses a hybrid cost-sales comparison approach. This type of approach accounts for
neighborhood market influences not specified in the cost model.
The following equation denotes the hybrid model used:

MV = MA [LV + (RCN - D)]

Whereas, the market value (MV) equals the market adjustment (MA) factor times the land
value (LV) and the replacement cost new (RCN) less depreciation (D). As the cost approach
separately estimates both land and building values and uses depreciated replacement costs,
which reflect only the supply side of the market, it is expected that adjustments to the cost
values are needed to bring the level of appraisal to an acceptable standard. Market or
location adjustments are applied uniformly within neighborhoods to account for variances
in location between market areas or across a jurisdiction.

The neighborhoods for re-inspection are depicted in Figure 1.2 showing their respective
school districts. The actual ratios are found in Appendix B.
Figure 7.2 Neighborhoods for Re-inspection

TlPage

+=
S

Our analysis indicates the following:

o
o

Most neighborhoods are within tolerances.

There are 50 neighborhoods that may need downward market adjustments to be
within tolerances. About half of these are in Region E, East El Paso and Region F,
Lower Valley El Paso areas. The rest are evenly dispersed throughout the County.

SlPage

There are 25 neighborhoods that may need upward market adjustments to be

within tolerances. About half of these are in Region A, West El Paso and Region B,
Upper Valley El Paso areas. The rest are evenly dispersed throughout the County.

A cost-to-sale ratio is compared to the appraisal-to-sale ratio to determine the market

adjustment factor for each neighborhood. This market adjustment factor is used to trend
the values obtained through the cost approach closer to the actual market evidenced by
recent sales prices within a given neighborhood. The sales used to determine the market
adjustment factor would reflect the market influences and conditions only for the specified
neighborhood, thus producing more representative and supportable values.

The market adjustment factor calculated for each updated neighborhood is applied
uniformly to all properties within a neighborhood. Once the market-trend factors are
applied, a second set of ratio studies is generated that compares recent sale prices with the
proposed appraised values for these sold properties. From this set of ratio studies, the
analyst judges the appraisal level and uniformity in both updated and non-updated
neighborhoods, and finally, for the school district as a whole.

ln 2015 and 2016, this analysis will be used to develop the starting point for establishing the
level and accuracy of appraisal performance. This process complies with the requirements
of Texas Property Tax Code 25.18(b).

1.4. Property Value Study

The bi-annual Property Value Study (PVS) is conducted by the Texas Comptroller of Public
Accounts, Property Tax Division. There are nine independent school districts in El Paso CAD
for which appraisal rolls are developed annually. The preliminary results of this study are
released in January of each odd-numbered year. The final results of this study are certified
to the Education Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in the following July.
This ratio study provides additional assistance to the CAD in determining areas of market
activity or changing market conditions.

The PVS's equalized values are analyzed along with ratio studies to determine appraisal
accuracy and appraisal uniformity overall and by market area within state property
reporting categories. Ratio studies are conducted in compliance with the current Standards
on Ratio Studies from the lnternational Association of Assessing Officers. Mean, median,
and weighted mean ratios are calculated for properties in each reporting category to
measure the level of appraisal (appraisal accuracy). The mean ratio is calculated in each
market area to indicate the level of appraisal by property reporting category.

The district will conduct ratio studies on commercial and business personal properties
where there are sufficient sales to provide a large enough sample. All commercial accounts
are inspected annually either by field checks or using orthophotography and oblique
photography. Business personal property accounts must render all property used to
produce income under Section 22.01of the Texas Property Tax Code, and is field checked

9lPage

annually. Commercial appraisers advise the business personal property department of new
businesses or expansions in order to maintain the data of business personal property.
1.5. Standards Complia nce

New and/or revised mass appraisal models are tested on randomly selected market areas.
These modeling tests or sales ratio studies are conducted each tax year. Actual test results
are compared with anticipated results and those models not performing satisfactorily are
refined and retested. The procedures used for model specification and model calibration
comply wilh Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Proctice, Standard Rule 6.

Effective 20L0, all appraisal districts are subject to a bi-annual performance review
performed by the Property Tax Assistance Division under Section 5.102, "At least once every
two years, the comptroller sholl review the governonce of eoch appraisal district, toxpoyer
assistance provided, and the operating and approisol standords, procedures, and
methodology used by each appraisal district, to determine compliance with generolly
accepted standards, procedures, and methodology. After consultotion with the advisory
committee created under Section 403.302, Government Code, the comptroller by rule may
establish procedures and standards for conducting and scoring the review."
The program described above is known as the Methods and Assistance Program. EPCAD
underwent an extremely successful review in 70L3, achieving a perfect score. ln anticipation
all policies and procedures, manuals and processes have been audited in preparation for
the next review in 2015.
ln 2OL2, the district was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration
by the lnternational Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). The IAAO is quickly becoming
the standard in assessment administration. This certification requires the IAAO to review all
aspects of the assessment process and administration for compliance with IAAO published

standards. lt also seeks to identify best practices within the District that may assist other
similar organizations.

ln 2O17, this international award was held by only 12 entities. ln 20L4, that number has
grown to twenty-six. There were only two Texas appraisal districts but now are six with four
more in the process of qualifying. The Comptroller's office recognizes the effort and
standards that a district must meet to receive the award and has opted to eliminate the
governance and operating procedures from the MAPS requirements. The one exception is
that these districts must respond to one question selected by the Comptroller, from each of
those sections to ensure compliance.

l0 lPage

Revaluation Decision
to reappraise all property in the district at least once every three years.
The reappraisal year is a complete appraisal of all properties in the district. A nonreappraisal year is used to pick up new construction, adjust for zoning changes and changes
in property characteristics that affect value, and adjust previous year values for
EPCAD is mandated

equalization.

Tax year 2015 is a reappraisal year

for regulatory compliance.

Tax year 2016 is a non-reappraisalyear unless there is a significant change in market

values.

to be appraised will be identified by reliable means of identification, including

but not limited to deed records, building permits, renditions or other legal docurnents,
orthophotography and oblique photography, land-based photographs, surveys, maps,
Properties

property sketches, and construction plans.

ln addition, geographical areas have been identified through the analysis of ratio studies,
discussed above and outlined on maps provided in Appendix B.

as

years changes in the market may cause EPCAD to reappraise

neighborhoods and/or property types. The El Paso Central Appraisal District anticipates no

ln non-reappraisal

major market changes for 2016.

11

lPage

lll.

Analysis of Available Resources

3.1 Staffing
The Executive Director/Chief Appraiser is responsible for the overall planning, organizing,
staffing, coordinating, and overseeing of district operations. The administration
department's function is to plan, organize, direct and control the business support functions
related to human resources, budget, finance, records management, purchasing, fixed
assets, facilities and postal services.
Three appraisal departments are responsible for the valuation of all real and personal
property accounts. The commercial department oversees commercial and industrial real
property while the business personal property department oversees income producing
personal property. The residential department is responsible for residential, manufactured
homes and open space/agricultural properties. The district's appraisers are subject to the
provisions of the Property Taxation Professional Certification Act and must be duly
registered with The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Ownership and exemptions are administered in the deeds and exemption department. The
mapping and GIS department maintains property identification and legal descriptions.

Support functions include records maintenance and assistance to property owners. The
district also provides support staff for the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
Pressure continues on fiscal resources

in the form of fees to litigate appeals of

ARB

determinations either to arbitration or district court. Property owners or their tax agents
are increasingly filing lawsuits under the equity provision of the Property Tax Code, Section
42.26. This section allows them to bypass the market value argument.

The district has had to create a department to support litigation in the form of appraisals,
research and responses

to discovery requests. The right to appeal an ARB decision to

an

arbitrator was permitted by legislation in 2005. Since that time, the requests for arbitration
have grown to !26 in 2012. There were 232lawsuits and 3L7 requests for arbitration filed in
2013. The costs for litigation represents a significant portion of the CAD budget. ln 2015 it
represents 9.8 percent of the budget. This is not likelyto abate in the term of this plan.

The district has budgeted for

a staff of

L40 employees including

the

Executive

Director/Chief Appraiser. This reflects the flexibility achieved by automation and being able
to meet the needs of the public in a more efficient, automated manner.
Over the past four years the district has moved away from data entry as a department to
having employees update the system directly. This has required higher levels of computer
skills, creation of database monitors for quality control and statistical analysis. No additional

12lPage

staffing has been added but an increased concentration on training has allowed the district
to improve all skill levels, requiring new job classifications while eliminating others.
This trend is likely to continue into the plan years as the district strives to meet the needs of

the entities and the public it serves. The district's Organization Chart appears in Appendix C
and is effective until replaced. The staffing breakdown as currently budgeted for 20L4-2O15
is depicted in Figure 3.1.

Executive Director/Chief Appraiser

Managers and Supervisors (13)
Chief Financial Officer
Business Personal Property Manager

Executive (4)
Assistant Chief Appraiser
Director of Administrative Services
Director of Litigation & Appeals
Director of Appraisal Services

Commercial Manager
Residential Manager

Manager
Network Manager
Application Support Manager
GIS

Professional (13)
Data Analysts

Human Resource Manager

Computer Program Analysts

Quality Control Monitor
Software Developer
Litigation Analyst
Statistica I Coordinator
Statistical Analyst
Accounta nt

Litigation Coordinator
Records and Archives Manager
ARB Coordinator
Records Supervisor
Deeds & Exemptions Supervisor

Administrative Support (55)

Appraisers & Technicians (48)

Training Supervisor
Appraisers lV
Appraisa

Appraiser lll
Appraiser ll
Plat & Subdivision Specialists ll
Plat & Subdivision Specialists I

Litigation Appraiser lll

Litigation Specialist

lnformation Systems ( 6)
Desktop Support Tech nicia ns
Data Control Specialist
Data Control Clerks
Research Specialist

!
21

Facility Maintenance Worker ll

Facility Maintenance Worker I
Customer Contact Clerks

Admin Clerks

z
10

HR Specialist
Appraisal Records Specialist

27

t
1

1
1

Fiscal Clerks

Secreta ries

Field Specialists

)
1
1,

3.2 Fiscal Resources

Staffing and budget requirements for tax year 2015 are detailed in the 201,4-2A\5 appraisal
district's budget, as adopted by the Board of Directors and attached to the written plan by

reference. (See Appendix C). This plan reflects the available staffing for the tax year as
budgeted for 7014-2A15. This may change as the emphasis on automation increases but it
is unclear at this time as to the extent of change on staffing because of software or
hardware upgrades.

13

lPage

3.3 lnformation Systems

The CAMA system, PACS, has served the district since its implementation in 2009. Recently

it

has been increasingly difficult to implement changes to keep pace with current
supporting technologies. However, it is sufficient to cover our needs through 2016.
The use of orthophotography and oblique photography was implemented in 2011-. lt allows

the district to identify omitted improvements in properties outside the city

limits.

Appraisers are able to use this tool to identify changes to existing properties as part of the
review process and to comply with USPAP requirements.

The district has also added an imaging system to store pictures and documents and avoid
costly offsite storage of hardcopy. We continue to store computer system backups offsite.
See Section Vl

for more detailed description of information systems throughout the district.

3.4 Contracted Appraisals

Capitol Appraisal Group appraises approximately 660 parcels of industrial real and business

personal properties and utilities. ln 2015 the district will request proposals for contracted
appraisal services. The commercial, industrial and business personal property departments
work the remaining accounts. The Capitol Appraisal Group input is included in Appendix

D.

3.5 lmpact of Legislation

The Texas Legislature meets every two years during the odd-numbered years from January

to May. ln addition, the governor may call a special session. The EPCAD's staff monitors the
process carefully and informs the chief appraiser of the status of proposed legislation during

the legislative session.

The chief appraiser, assistant chief appraiser, directors and litigation analysts monitor all
sources for legal developments affecting EPCAD. ln addition, the Texas Association of
Appraisal Districts (TAAD) provides weekly updates via the Legislative Trocking lisf on their
website while the legislature is in session. The staff uses this list to revise the weekly
Legislative Progress Report to the chief appraiser with highlights to show the changes and
additions. Chief Appraiser and Directors will continue to be involved in TAAD's legislative
committee, working with lobbyists and keeping abreast of legislative issues.
Managerial staff monitors the internet sites for changes in legislation affecting other
operations of the district such as human resources, fiscal operations, open records, records
management, etc. Periodic in-service training is held as changes in codes occur, presented
either in-house the district's attorney, local attorneys, or by webinar.

14

lPage

As 2015 is a legislative year, this plan reflects existing legislation but

with systems in place to

implement changes as needed at the conclusion of the legislative session(s).

15

lPage

tv.

Planning and Organization

4.1 Parcel Count

will be coupled with an extensive public information education
effort geared to affording the tax paying citizen an opportunity to be aware of the
program's goals. EPCAD estimates that by May of 201,5, the district will have an estimated
406,614 accounts to be appraised and 4O7,83L in 20L6. The anticipated breakdown of
these parcels is shown in Figure 5.1. Budget figures have been proposed accordingly and
administration procedures will be instituted to insure that the mapping, data collection,
EPCAD's Reappraisal Plan

valuation, and all other phases are complete for all parcel changes on schedule.
Figure 5.7 Porcel Count
CAT.

DESCRIPTION of CATEGORY

20L3

2044

NG L E FAMI LY RESID EN CE

2033',13

204362

205416

206476

430

7514

7607

1090

L10979

SI

MU LTI-FAMI LY RESI

VACANT LOTS

D1
D2
E

ENCE

& TRACT LAND

QUALIFIED AG LAND

FARM OR RANCH IMPROVEMENT

REAL: COMMERCIAL

F2

REAL: INDUSTRIAL

G3

MINERAL: NON-PRODUCI NG

H1

TANGI BLE PERSONAL: NON-BUSI NESS VEH ICLE

UTI LITIES

t1

PERSONAL: COMMERCIAL

L2

PRESONAL: INDUSTRIAL

MANUFACTURED HOMES

RESI DENTIAL INVENTORY

SPECIAL INVENTORY

FULLY EXEMPT

2015

ES'l

ES-I

!77434

t11262

3536

3667

3803

3944

337

337

337

7't73

7420

7043

6761

LO3L7

1o454

0593

70733

264

266

264

270

1.7

11

tL

599

708

777

726

21279

21266

27253

27240

285

277

269

262

13L57

1-3329

3503

13680

4762

4774

8786

a79A

522

524

526

s2a

L5245

15342

15440

1s538

403930

405430

406674

40783L

NON-QUALIFIEDAG LAND

F1

7343

2015

1 1

4.2 Production Standards

It is estimated that the reappraisal program can be completed if the EPCAD can maintain
maximum staffing for each of its positions. As directed by the Executive Director/Chief
Appraiser, each department manager is responsible for the productivity and performance of
their staff. Progress reports are maintained by managers for purposes of reviewing
performance and identifying areas for improvements.

Calendar of Events

16

lPage

A calendar of key events, shown in Figure 4.2, is an overview of the EPCAD's activities. A
detailed breakdown has been prepared for each department, sorted by month and appears
in Appendix C with the district's Organization Chart. Where no month is shown as a target,
the event is started and completed in the same month. We also observe the TAX Calendar.
4.2 Calendar of Events
Event

1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

5.

ongoing

Organization and Planning

a. Work plan development
b. Prosress monitorins and reportins

August
August
September
November
Onsoins

a.
b.
c.

Hardware & software modifications

Forms reviews
Procedure reviews
Research and Analysis
a. Sales file development
b. Data/documentationcollection
c. Cost table analysis
d. Model analysis
e. Depreciationguidelinesanalysis
f. Neighborhood model analysis
g. Ratio study production and analysis
h. Agriculture use valuation

January
Ja n uary
December

Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing

July

March
March
March
March
March

November

Janua ry

July

March
August
March
March

August
August
August
August

Data Collection

Training and orientation

July

Field work

August
August

Parcel inventory control

Monitoring and quality control

Ongoing

Re-inspection

Vatuation Review
a. Land valuation analysis
b. Renditionprocessing
c. Apply cost tables
d. Produce sale listings and ratios
e. Apply valuation models
f. Produce edit reports
g. Process corrections
h. Qualitv control
Notification and Appeals
a. File calculations
b. File creation
c. Totals report production

d.
e.
f.

December

onsoins

Data System Design

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Ends

Begins

September

February

August
August
Ja nuary

March

January

February

December
December

March

November
ongoing

April

February

May

February

onsoins
January

Stafftraining
Mail notices
Hold informal and ARB hearings

July

January

Februa ry

May
May

June
June

March
March

June

April

August

The calendar for 2016 is the same as that of 2015. Exceptions for each of the applicable
years are listed separately in Appendix

C.

4.4 Performance Objectives

OBJECTIVE NO.1

No phase of the program will be undertaken unless preceded by proper and thorough
program planning and design, as evaluated annually.

lTlPage

OBJECTIVE NO. 2

will complete the field review portion of the program by early March. The appeals
process and certified values will be completed in compliance with PropertyTax Code 4L.t2.
EPCAD

OBJECTIVE NO.3

will rnaximize the use of professional and technical advice in all phases of its
reappraisal program to assure application of current procedures and techniques that are
EPCAD

reflective of standard appraisal practice as required by law, and to guarantee an economical

and effective effort.

The Reappraisal Plan will upon completion, leave in place an on-going system that will
effectively maintain current property values in future years as required by legislation. lt will
also leave in place professional appraisers that can effectively defend the appraised values
placed on the properties using the CAMA system. Our Reappraisal Plan will be undertaken
by use of in-house personnel with some contracting, as necessary. Capitol Appraisal Group
is presently contracted to assist in appraising some industrial properties.

Pag

V. Systems Development

5.1 I nformatlon Systems

The CAMA system, PACS, was implemented for the 2009 reappraisal. The District has also
moved to a document imaging system to reduce paper and improve productivity. All forms
are reviewed from August through February for regulatory compliance and system
compatibility.

The use of orthophotography and oblique photography was implemented in 201-1. This
technology allows the district to identify omitted improvements in properties outside the
city Iimits. Appraisers are able to use this tool to identify changes to existing properties as
part of the review process and to comply with USPAP requirements.
Field staff utilizes Latitude 10 Tablets to assist with on-site appraisals. The field appraiser
can enter and retrieve live information via remote access card. The District's use of this
technology facilitates prompt completion of work.

5.2 Appraisal Practices

Existing appraisal practices, which continue from

yearto year, are identified in the district's

policies and procedures manuals as well as appraisal department manuals and cost tables.
Manuals are kept current by annual reviews of the content and bi-annual revisions of
policies and procedures to accommodate new legislation, supplemented by revisions to
address current issues.

Additions to current procedures have been created to cornplement system userguides and
address new issues. Additional revisions required to comply with new legislation in 2015 will
be added. Real property appraisal depreciation tables and cost tables are tested against
verified sales data to ensure that they represent current market data.

The cap rate study by commercial real property type is updated annually from current
market data and market rents that are reviewed and updated from local and published
data. Personal property density schedules are tested and analyzed based on rendition and
prior year documentation.

to

February of each year and in conjunction with

procedure and legislative revisions. Each department's procedures are audited each year. A
group of procedures is reviewed each year and the remainder are reviewed during the
legislative year. Procedures created or revised three years prior to the current year are
reviewed if not already included in the legislative update. Procedures from 201.2 will be
reviewed in 201-5 and those from 2013 in 2016.

Forms are reviewed from August

1-9lPage

ln 2015, this revision process will begin with a compilation of Property Tax Codes that have
been added or changed. This list is compared to the database of codes controlling the
existing procedures. In this way, the district is able to identify those procedures that must
be revised or created to meet the legislative requirements. The schedule for completion of
this work complements the effective date of the new legislation.
Property characteristic data on new construction is updated through an annual field effort;
existing property data is maintained through a field review that is prioritized by last field
inspection date. Sales are routinely validated during a separate field effort; however,
numerous sales are validated as part of the new construction and data review field
activities.
General trends in employment, interest rates, new construction, zoning changes, and cost
and rnarket data are acquired through various sources, including internally generated
questionnaires to buyers and sellers, university research centers, and market data centers
and vendors.

The district's website makes a broad range of information available for public

access,

including but not limited to:

the state website

The website will be completely reconstructed in time for the 2015 reappraisal.

5.3 Data Collection and Processing Needs

Collection of data regarding sales, income and expense/ as well as cost and deprecation are
discussed in depth in Section VIll.
5.3.1 Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal System
EPCAD maintains data in a computer assisted mass appraisal system (CAMA) identified
in this document as PACS. Property data is collected and maintained to provide accurate

20

lPage

information such as property ownership, Iocation, size, use, physical characteristics and
sales prices when available. lnformation concerning commercial properties includes
business type, characteristics, income, rents, costs and operating expenses.
5.3.2 Geographic Data
The district uses a geographic information system (GlS)to maintain accurate, up-to-date

cadastral maps for the entire district. A unique parcel identifier number is tied to a
geographic number, known as a GEO lD that reflects the location of the parcel. The
system allows staff to display data to permit a high-level analysis of sales,
neighborhoods and market trends.
5.3.3 Property Characteristics Data
Field and office review procedures are reviewed and revised as required for data
collection. Properties scheduled for review each tax year include new construction,
demolition, remodeling, re-inspection of problematic market areas, and re-inspection of
the universe of properties on a specific cycle of three years as explained in Section 7.1'.7.

The current CAMA system as supported by the GIS system, orthophotography and
oblique photography are deemed sufficient for the needs through 2016.
New construction, field and office review procedures are identified in the district's
policies and procedures manuals and revised as required. Field production standards are
established and monitored by the department managers using daily logs. The sources of
building permits are confirmed and system input procedures are identified. In addition,
the district uses aerial photography to identify changes to improvements in the property
record.

5.4 Real Property Valuation

Revisions to cost models, income models, and market models are specified, updated and
tested each tax year.

Cost schedules are tested with market data (sales) to insure that the appraisal district
complies with Texas Property Tax Code, Section 23.OIt. Replacement cost new tables as
well as deprecation tables are tested for accuracy and uniformity using ratio study tools and
compared with cost data from recognized industry leaders, such as Marshall & Swift.
Land tables are updated using current market data (sales) and then tested with ratio study
tools. Value modifiers are developed for property categories by market area and tested on a

pilot basis with ratio study tools.

When a neighborhood is to be updated, the appraiser uses a ratio study that compares
recent sales prices of properties appropriately adjusted for the effects of time within a
delineated neighborhood. The calculated ratio derived from the sum of the sold properties
cost value divided by the sum of the sales prices indicates the neighborhood level of value'
21

lPage

This cost-to-sale ratio is compared to the appraisal-to-sale ratio to determine the market
adjustment factor for each neighborhood. This market adjustment factor is needed to
trend the values obtained through the cost approach closer to the actual market evidenced
by recent sales prices within a given neighborhood.

5.5 Personal Property Valuation

Density schedules are updated using data received during the previous tax year from
renditions and hearing documentation. These schedules are compared to State published
density schedules and/or nearby appraisal district schedules. Valuation procedures are
reviewed and modified as needed and then tested to validate the modifications.

5.6 Notices
Notice of Appraised Value forms are updated by the CAMA provider. All enclosures for both
notices and appointment letters are reviewed including the latest copy of the State
Co m ptrol ler's p u b ication, P ro p e rty Ow ne rs' Re m e d i e s.
I

5.7 Hearing Process

Protest hearing scheduling for informal and formal ARB hearings is reviewed and updated as
required. Standards of documentation are reviewed and amended as required. The district's
hearing documentation is reviewed and updated to reflect the current valuation process.

Production of documentation is tested and compliance with Property Tax Code, Section
41.67 is insured.

5.8 Mapping and GIS

The district has a geographic information system (GIS) that maintains cadastral maps and
various layers of data, including aerial photography. The district is responsible for
establishing and maintaining what is estimated to be 406,6L4 real and personal property
accounts, taxable and exempt, covering i.054 square miles within El Paso County. This
parcel count is expected to reach approximately 407,831 by 20L6. This data includes
property cha racteristic, ownership and exemption information.

22lPage

Vl. Pilot Study

Pilot studies are conducted in areas of the district where major changes have occurred
requiring revision of procedures. Procedures are tested to determine if the results are as
anticipated and produce accurate and reliable values. This is normally done in areas where
ratio study can be performed. This requires adequate sales to provide an acceptable
population of data.

tn 2O1.4, following certification, this step was used in market areas identified for review as
described in Section 2.3. The ratio study will be repeated following the re-inspection of
properties. Analysis of these ratio study results may lead to adjustments of 2015 schedules
and in some cases a revision of procedures. The ratio study is then repeated to deterrnine if
the adjustments produced the accuracy and reliability envisioned in the change. This
portion of the work is to be completed after this document is approved.

23

lPage

Vll. Data Collection

7.1 Data Collection Process

As indicated earlier, data collection begins immediately following certification of the

appraisal roll in August of the preceding year and continues through March of the tax year.

Data is collected by the appraisal staff and entered into PACS in both the residential and
business personal property departments. The commercial department uses seasoned
appraisers for this task. Data is then entered into the CAMA system. Data is also collected
from building permits, new subdivision plats and information collected during the
equalization phase. In addition, experienced appraisers use the technology of
orthophotography and oblique photography to reappraise properties not appraised in the
field. The ability to identify changes in improvements through the use of the change finder
feature of the software assists the appraiser.

7.1.L New Construction/Demolition

New construction, field and office review procedures are identified in the district's
policies and procedures manuals and revised as required. The sources of building
permits are confirmed and system input procedures are identified. ln addition, the
district uses aerial photography to identify changes to improvements in the property
record.
Real property market areas, by property classification, are tested for the following:

o
.

Low or high sales ratios

High coefficient of dispersion

Market areas that fail any of these tests are determined to be problematic. Field
reviews are scheduled to verify and/or correct property characteristic data. Additional
sales data is researched and verified. ln the absence of adequate market data,
neighborhood delineation is verified and neighborhood clusters are identified.

.1".2 Re-inspection of the Universe of Properties

Section 25.18 of the Texas Property Tax Code requires periodic re-appraisal of
7

properties at least every three years. The district meets this requirement by means of
identifying properties to be appraised through physical inspection or by other reliable
means of identification, including deeds or other legal documentation,
orthophotography and oblique photography, change finder, sketch verifier, building

24lPage

permits, land-based photographs, surveys, maps, property sketches and information

gleaned during the equalization phase.
Properties to be field inspected are identified through sales and permit inforrnation,
rechecks prompted by the previous year's appeals process, changes noted via aerial
photography and ratio studies that indicate a change in the characteristics of a
neighborhood.

7.1.3

Field or Office Verification of Sales Data and Property Characteristics

Sales information is verified and property characteristics are captured as of the date of

sale. The sales ratio tools require that the characteristics of the sold property must
equal those of the appraised property in order for statistical analysis results to be valid.

7.2 Sales Data

Texas is a non-disclosure state; sales are not a matter

of public record. As a result,

EPCAD

uses other methods of gathering sales information. EPCAD collects sales information from

variety of sources, including sales questionnaires mailed to buyers and sellers by EPCAD and
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, field discovery, published listings, renditions,
protest hearings, builders, deeds filed with the county, and realtors. EPCAD also uses
vendors such as CoStar and LoopNet.

information into the PACS. PACS automatically assigns

each sale a unique number, called a sales lD that expedites retrieval.
EPCAD gathers and enters all sales

The reliability of value estimates or ratio study results depends on the quantity and quality
of the sales data. EPCAD verifies sales to determine if they reflect the market value of the
real property and no other interest. We exclude sales if they fail to meet the criteria for an
arm's length or market transaction

For commercial property sales, the distribution of the value is extremely difficult to
establish. However, if the district determines that an allocation is appropriate, we make a
manual distribution of value. EPCAD uses paired sales analysis to determine time
adjustments. The district examines properties that have sold twice within a given time
period. lt verifies similarities and differences between the two sales covering inforrnation
such as type of financing, amount down, interest rates, and term. This also includes any
additional improvements or demolitions. When the same property sells twice the time
adjustment indicated would be ideal.

lf both sales are similar, EPCAD calculates a monthly and annual percentage change. lf there
are differences, then it does not use the property in question or it may adjust to one or both
of the sales to be relatively equal to the other. The District then compares the adjusted
and/or raw sales prices and calculates an annual percentage change. lf the difference is
significant, it will add a time adjustment factor to the sales file in order to more accurately

25

lPage

forecast the market as of the appraisal date. PACS allows for time adjustments within the
sales information.

7.3 lncome and Expense Data

The income approach requires gathering and reviewing income and expense, and sales
information. EPCAD uses the income approach to value most property types when income
information is available with the exception of new construction when income information is
not available or has not been established. Texas is a non-disclosure state and as such state
law does not require property owners to furnish sales or income information to EPCAD.
The district derives market data from publications, field inspections, and any information
obtained during the appeals process. The district also gets this information in interviews
with tenants, and from fee simple appraisals. At the end of the certification process, when
the final values have been determined, the district uses PACS'query system to access all
information and process it into the appropriate stratum in property identification number
(PlD)order.
The source of income information for the larger industrial properties is Grub and Ellis, along
with information gathered during the equalization phase. The district takes advantage of

the CoStar service as a supporting source to the Grub and Ellis. It not only uses CoStar for
industrial properties but also for providing income and expense data for a variety of
property types.
7.4 Costand Deprecation Data
Marshall and Swift Valuation Service helps in the construction of cost models to
determine value for property when sufficient sale and income and expense information is
unavailable. The district updates the cost tables every year to comply with the State
requirement to be at market value as of January 1 of the each year.
The district applies the local cost multiplier for the various construction classes to adjust to
the El Paso market. The district collects cost information from local contractors. However,

trying

to

gather this information becomes very difficult because of the companies'

proprietary concerns.

The staff considers the observed conditions, economic obsolescence, and functional
obsolescence in estimating total depreciation. Staff performs the depreciation function
during a field inspection of the properties or during the discovery phase updating the
appraisal rolls.

Field inspections generally are the results of permit, or digital orthophotography and
oblique photography reviews, or rechecks of reported deficiencies during the equalization
phase. The field appraiser evaluates the property as to all categories of depreciation. This
requires the appraiserto physically inspect the property and take notes of general physical

26

lPage

condition; more specifically to look for any deferred maintenance, leakage, and cracks. The
absence of customers at the business's parking lot, or road construction on the access
road may suggest temporary economic issues.

7.5 Data Edits and Testing

The data is then reviewed by appraisers assigned by market area. The data is subject

to

system

review using edit reports, and error reports. Ratio studies are run on a regular basis by
neighborhood to identify possible errors. Field checks are scheduled to review these properties to
correct inequities or suspect values.
Error reports are run and provided to department managers for follow up. Managers use monitors to
review the progress of work to ensure timely completion of data collection. All data is reviewed prior

for

Notices of Appraised Values. Where data is suspect

flagged to prevent release for Notices.

to

release

or incomplete, accounts

are

At the same time addresses are "scrubbed" or sent to our contract mailer to validate, standardize
addresses and certify the addresses for our bulk mailing permit. Address scrubs are performed every
three months.

2TlPage

Vlll

Production of Values

B.l Overview
Using market analysis of comparable sales and locally tested cost data, market and specific
income and expense data, valuation models are specified and calibrated in compliance with

the supplemental standards from the lnternatlonal Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO)
and the Uniform Stondards of Professional Approisal Proctice (USPAP). The calculated values
are tested for accuracy and uniformity using ratio studies. Performance standards are those
established by the IAAO Standard on Ratio Studies.
Appraisal departments review the previous bi-annual property value study conducted by the
Property Tax Assistance Division of the Texas Comptroller's Office. Analysts use the same
properties selected by the Property Tax Assistance Division in the previous study and any

additional sales obtained.

The review and analysis is used to calculate new ratios and coefficients of dispersion for
notice values and certified values of the current year. Time adjustments are made to these
sales and values to anticipate appreciating or depreciating markets. The purpose of the
study is to identify the strengths and more importantly the weaknesses that must be
addressed during the appraisal phase by School District and category.
8.2 Valuation Models
The Texas State Legislature through the comptroller's office regulates the operations of the
Texas appraisal districts. Property Tax Code, Section 1.04, Definitions defines the market
value the district must use when valuing properties and Section 23.0!, Approisals Generally
establishes the effective date of the appraisal. The district complies with USPAP Standard 6
unless the law requires deviation. An example of deviation is that once the Appraisal Review
Board determines the property value because of a protest that value remains in effect for
the subsequent year unless substantial evidence exists.

Market areas with extensive improvement and remodeling are identified and verified to
update property characteristic data. lnformation gathered through the previous year's
hearings is combined with permit information and field activities. The results are tested with
ratio studies before being finalized in the valuation modeling process.
Models are calibrated by adjusting mass appraisal formulas, tables and schedules to the
current market. Calibration of models differs in each approach to value. Additionally
Property Tax Code, Section 23.01, Appraisols Generally requires that staff take into account
the individual characteristics affecting the property's market value. This requirement
reestablishes the need to review each individual reappraised/re-inspected record to

28

lPage

determine if the district may or may not make a value adjustmentto a property. The district
then makes a judgment by reviewing the notes in the property record.

The district also monitors whether a settlement, waiver, or ARB order determined a
property protest because records are rolled over to the next year sometime between August
and October. If the ARB adjusted the property after the rollover date, then the incorrect
value may appear on the record. This requires a review of the information presented to
determine if there is justification for an adjustment.
8.3 The Cost Approach

The residential department uses the cost approach to value mobile homes and support
values of new construction. The district values all residential parcels from construction cost
guidelines using a comparative unit method. The customized residential value schedules,
originally adopted from a private mass appraisal firm, are designed to fit El Paso County local
residential building and labor market. The district reviews the value schedules regularly
because of State Legislation requiring that the district value schedules be within a range of
plus or minus five percent of market value.
The district performed an extensive review and revision of the residential value schedules
for the 2O!4 tax year. Staff verified the property data characteristics of newly constructed
properties and took photographs of the samples. Of these properties, staff selected 601
samples for use in the district value system review. This process is repeated annually.
Appraisers compared the dwelling values against Marshall & Swift, a nationally recognized
cost estimator. This process included correlation of quality of construction factors from the
district and Marshall & Swift. Staff analyzed the results of this comparison using statistical
measures, including stratification by quality and reviewing estimated building costs plus land
sales prices.

The district determined no need for a new regional multiplier in the development of the cost
process. lt did not use any adjustment to the value schedule. This unadjusted value schedule
complies with the State Legislative mandate described above. This decision is reviewed
annually.
In addition to the CAMA value schedules, the district created applications to address unique
appraisal situations, such as different levels of remodeling and atypical housing features not

normalty accounted for in the CAMA benchmark value system. The district develops
neighborhood, or market adjustment, factors from appraisal statistics provided from ratio
studies and uses them to ensure that estimated values are consistent with the market.
The primary approach to the valuation of residential properties uses a hybrid cost-sales
comparison approach. This type of approach accounts for neighborhood market influences
not specified in the cost model. The following equation denotes the hybrid model used:
MV = MA [LV + (RCN

D)]

29

lPage

Whereas, the market value (MV) equals the market adjustment (MA) factor times the sum of
the land value (LV) plus the replacement cost new (RCN) of any improvements minus normal

depreciation (D).
The district places properties that are valued using the cost approach into strata. ln the case
of the fast food restaurants, the key the district uses for stratification is whether it is a
nationally recognized fast food restaurant or a local fast food restaurant. We categorize
other classes of properties by their type and/or if they have multiple classes of property on
the same property record. Another component of the strata selection may be the land
because of the process the district uses to value the land.

As the cost approach separately estimates both land and building values and uses
depreciated replacement costs that reflect only the supply side of the market, the district
expects to adjust the cost values to bring the level of appraisal to an acceptable standard.

typically measures functional and economic obsolescence by comparing market

income against actual income. When comparing incomes, the staff determines if any loss of
income is due to a management decision. lf no management issue exists, the district
identifies the reason for the lost income. Once the district isolates the reason, it converts the
loss of income to a percentage and makes the necessary adjustments to the record.
EPCAD

The district applies market or location adjustments uniformly within neighborhoods to

account for location variances among market areas or across a jurisdiction. ln updating a
neighborhood, the appraiser uses a cost ratio study that compares recent sales prices of
properties appropriately adjusted for the effects of time within a delineated neighborhood
with the actual cost value of the properties. The calculated ratio derived from the sum of
the cost value of the sold properties divided by the sum of the sales prices indicates the
neighborhood level of value based on the unadjusted cost value for the sold properties.
The district compares this cost-to-sale ratio to the appraisal-to-sale ratio to determine the
market adjustment factor for each neighborhood. The district needs this market adjustment
factor to trend the values obtained through the cost approach closer to the actual market
evidenced by recent sales prices within a given neighborhood. The sales used to determine
the market adjustment factor would reflect the market influences and conditions only for
the specified neighborhood, thus producing more representative and supportable values.
The district applies the market adjustment factor calculated for each updated neighborhood
uniformly to all properties within a neighborhood. Once the appraisers apply the markettrend factors, they generate a second set of ratio studies that compares recent sale prices
with the proposed appraised values for these sold properties. From this set of ratio studies,
the appraisers judge the appraisal level and uniformity in both update and non-update
neighborhoods, and finally, for the school district as a whole.
8.4 The Sales Comparison Approach

30

lPage

The sales approach is the primary method of valuing residential property. The district
conducts residential valuation and neighborhood analysis on each of the political entities
known as independent school districts (lSD). lf there are not enough sales in a particular
neighborhood, then the appraisers use sales in comparable neighborhoods to determine
market value for the neighborhood in question.
Once staff identifies a neighborhood the next step is to define or delineate its boundaries.
Some factors in neighborhood delineation include:

o
.
o
.
.
.
o

location
sales price range
lot size
age of dwelling
quality of construction and condition of dwellings
square footage of living area
story height

Delineation can involve the physical drawing of neighborhood boundary lines on a map, but
it can also include statistical separation or stratification based on attribute analysis. Part of
neighborhood analysis is the consideration of discernible patterns of growth that influence a
neighborhood's individual market. Few neighborhoods have a fixed character.
Each neighborhood may be in a stage of growth, stability or decline. The growth period is a
time of development and construction. As new neighborhoods in a community develop, they

compete with existing neighborhoods. An added supply of new homes tends to induce
population shift from older homes to newer homes. ln the period of stability, or equilibrium,
the forces of supply and demand are about equal.
Generally, in the stage of equilibrium, older neighborhoods are more desirable due to their
stability of residential character and proximity to the workplace and other comrnunity
facilities. The period of decline reflects diminishing demand or desirability.
During decline, general property use may change from residential to a mix of residential and
commercial uses. Declining neighborhoods may also experience renewal, reorganization,
rebuilding, or restoration that promotes increased demand and economic desirability.

Neighborhood identification and delineation are the cornerstones of the residential

valuation system at EPCAD. All the residential analysis work done in association with the
residential valuation process is neighborhood specific. Neighborhoods are field-inspected
and delineated based on observable aspects of homogeneity. Staff periodically reviews
neighborhoods to determine if it warrants further neighborhood delineation. Whereas
neighborhoods incorporate similar properties in the same location, a neighborhood group
integrates similar neighborhoods in similar Iocations.

The district assigns each residential neighborhood

to a neighborhood

group based on

observable aspects of homogeneity among neighborhoods. Neighborhood grouping is highly

31

lPage

beneficial in cost-derived areas of limited or no sales or use in direct sales comparison

analysis. Neighborhood groups or clustered neighborhoods, increase the available market
data by linking comparable properties outside a given neighborhood. The district performs
sales ratio analysis on a neighborhood basis and in soft sale areas on a neighborhood group
basis.

EPCAD's residential appraisal staff reviews the property record for accuracy prior to
generation of the final value. This includes quality of construction, condition, physical,
functional, and economic obsolescence, percent complete, special features, and
improvement additives such as porches, garages, carport and swimming pools and other
factors significantly affecting the market value of the property.

After preliminary estimates of value have been determined in targeted areas, the appraisers
take valuation documents to the field to test the computer-assisted values against their own
appraisal judgment. During this review, the appraisers are able to physically inspect both
sold properties and unsold properties for comparability and consistency of values. The
appraisal staff also reviews similar properties in the same neighborhood as the subject to
insu re relative equ ity.

The appraisal staff may also use sales and equity comparable grids to insure market
accuracy. For more complex or higher value properties, a senior appraiser reviews of the
property to insure the final value is appropriate. The district releases the estimates of value
for notices of appraised value once the appraisers are satisfied with the level and uniformity
of value for each neighborhood within their area of responsibility.
a point system that derives a score. This score measures
how well the comparable rates relative to the subject. The higher the comparable scores,
the more comparable it is to the subject.
PACS' comparable program uses

For being in the same school district, the comparable program rates thirty-five points. For
having the same class, the comparable program rates fifteen points. For being in the same
neighborhood, the comparable program rates thirty points. For being on the same street,
the comparable program rates twenty points. The comparable program adds a maximum of

twenty-five points for similar living area and deducts five points for every one-hundred
square feet of difference. The comparable program adds a maximum of ten points for similar
year built and deducts three points for every one year of difference. The maximum score is
one-hundred.
Many factors adjust the comparable to the subject. The residential sales comparable systern
adjusts for every component. The class adjustment takes the comparable living area and
multiplies it by the difference in the qualities. The land adjustment is the difference in land
value.
The district adjusts for garages, pools, Jacuzzis, open porches, balconies, storage structures,
and so forth, dependent on the attributes. lf both the subject and the comparables have

these components, the system will take the difference of each value. If the subject has

32

lPage

component and the comparable does not, the system will add the value of the subject
component to the cornparable.
sales, EPCAD only applies this approach to
commercial property types when sales information is adequate. lssues of equity arise when
the district gives more weight to the sales comparison over the income or the cost
approaches to value. This issue restricts the use of the sales comparison approach on

Due

to the limited number of commercial

income prod ucing properties.

For commercial properties, the district uses the debt to equity ratio study to establish a
probable sale amount. We send sales questionnaires but receives a less than one percent
response. The attempts to confirm sales by phone are even less productive due to property
owner's unwillingness to disclose sales information. Other sources of sales are frorn sale
service organizations and property owners during the equalization phase.
The district maintains land valuation tables, sales comparison adjustments such as physical
and tocation differences. We use multiple regression analysis in the sales comparison
approach to value. A multiple regression analysis allows us to factor multiple elements

contributing to value.

8.5 The lncome Approach

The district uses the income approach to appraise apartments, multi-tenant retail, large
warehouses, hotels/motels, office warehouses, and multi-tenant office buildings. The district
places these classes of property into a stratum with their incomes as the primary selection
criteria. Although the district values these selected properties by using the income
approach, other classes of properties are constantly under review for possible use of the
income approach to value.

At the end of the certification process, when the final values have been determined, the
district uses PACS' query system to access all information and process it into the appropriate
stratum in property identification number (PlD) order. The district then transfers the data to
a spreadsheet

for income and expense information.

The district then reviews individual records to see if it can use the information to establish
value. We also review the information in the appropriate strata for consistency. lf there are
at least three years of information for a specific property and we considered it an outlier in
its current strata, we then transfer that property to a different strata.

lf there are sufficient sales to develop and calibrate the cap rates, then the district uses the
debt coverage ratio (DCR), and mortgage equity band of investment (BOM) to develop the
capitalization rate. lf there are insufficient sales then we perform the DCR capitalization rate
method and use the mortgage equity band of investment as supporting documentation for

33

lPage

the DCR capitalization rate. The primary document for development of the
are from realtyrates.com web site and KORPACZ

DCR and BOM

EPCAD has defined separate market areas or neighborhoods for income producing
properties. The district designated the effective gross income (EGl), expenses, and net
operating income (NOl) as the key determinants for strata location for properties it values
using the income approach.

Property Tax Code, Section 23.24, Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipmenf requires that the
district disregard personal property value for tax purposes if it used the income approach to
value. The staff creates a personal property account with the appropriate value annotated
on the account and maintains this account as inactive for tax purposes. lf they value the
property using the cost approach and the information is available, then they make the
appropriate adjustment to the record.
The commercial department has procedures set up to identify income producing properties
within market areas. Some of the components to determine homogeneity in the strata are
size, age, income information, use, and physical location. The Effective Gross lncome (EGl),
expenses, and Net Operating lncome (NOl) figures are used from the stratified income and
expense information as the primary component to conclude if the property fits into the
strata. This results because there may be gaps in the evidence, such as, potential gross rent
(PGR) or vacancy and collection (V&C) information.
Clearly secondary incomes, V&C, along with the PGR are important, however, the district
considers it important to maintain strata cohesion by concentrating on the income that the
property produces. Additionally there may be more than one similar economic location

within the county. lf so, the district places similar income producing properties in the same
strata to classify a comparable economic area. Such a profile and the subject area under
study must be within plus or minus of five percent.
8.6 Land Valuation
The commercial department uses specific mass appraisal techniques through our CAMA
system in conformity with Standard 6 of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal
Practice (USPAP). The specific mass appraisal techniques incorporate land use classification
and comparable Iand sales analysis. EPCAD has land tables for unit value by sales
comparison/analysis. The district applies adjustments to adjust parcels outside the
neighborhood norm for such factors as view, shape, size, and topography, among others,
where necessary. The standard procedure for the calculation of land value is a basic formula:
Land Size X Base Land Rate X Adjustment Factor (lf applicable)

Both the base land rate and the adjustment factors are automated table driven to select
base land rate from a table based on the market code from which we select the adjustment
factor.

34

lPage

The district stratifies land for analysis and value using a land segment classification coding.
The process entails assigning a market code to each land segment of a parcel. The rnarket
code consists of the neighborhood, the land use code, the rating code, and the segrnent
code. The first three characters of the six-character code represent the commercial
neighborhood location code as defined by the market data. This serves as the location
variable for sales stratification or comparable sales analysis.

The land use code occupies the fourth position indicating the highest and best use of the
segment, that is, primary, secondary, interstate highway; also classification codes for
medical, office, retail, industrial, apartment, and mix-use districts. The rating code occupies
the fifth position that describes either above average, average, or below average. The
segment code occupies the sixth position, that is, pad-site, corner, interior frontage, and
interior rear. The district expands intersection streets to include primary, secondary, and

tertiary corners.

The district generates the indicated valuation for the specific classification from the
automated base land rate tables from the sales base. The automated land code tables
provide a basic, median land-price range that is adjusted by the medium, land size range
yielding an adjusted per unit value indication for the selected parcel's highest and best
use/size relationship.
EpCAD uses multiple strata

for multiple neighborhood and classification groupings. This

process employs land segmentation and coding, delineating, and defining various segrnents

within a parcel. Highest and best use analysis, supported by the sales data, defines the
classification for various parcels. The sales data indicate differing land values for prirnary
arterials, secondary arterials, interstate highway, also medical, office, retail, industrial,
apartment, and mix-use districts.

stratification consists of grouping properties within a specific street

classification or land classification and then assigning a market code to each land segment.
The district applies adjustment codes where necessary. Grouping or stratification simplifies

The process

of

the coding of land segments.

ln the residential department, the highest and best use of property is the reasonable and
probable use that supports the highest present value as of the date of the appraisal. The
highest and best use rnust be physically possible, legal, financially feasible, and productive to
its maximum. The highest and best use of residential property is normally its current use.
This is due in part to the fact that residential development, in many areas, through use of
deed restrictions and zoning, precludes other land uses.
The district stratifies parcels first by zoning or use and then by location. lt also classifies
parcels by school district, region, and neighborhood. The largest stratification is by school
district followed by the region. The smallest is the neighborhood. There is also a subdivision
demarcation that is generally larger than a neighborhood demarcation. However, because
the neighborhood demarcation is more detailed than the subdivision, the district does not
use it.

35

lPage

The school district dernarcation is an actual school district boundary. The state uses it is to
audit appraisal district performance. lt is the largest of the demarcations. The region
demarcation is a geographic area of El Paso County. This region is very similar to the Greater
El Paso Association

of Realtors Market Area. lt is larger than a neighborhood demarcation.

The neighborhood demarcation is the smallest demarcation. The definition of

neighborhood for analysis purposes is the largest geographic grouping of properties where
the property is physical, economic, governmental, and social forces are generally similar and
uniform. This geographic stratification accommodates the local supply and demand factors
that vary across a jurisdiction.
Once the district identifies a neighborhood, the next step is to define or delineate its
boundaries. Some factors in neighborhood delineation include location, sales price range, lot
size, age of dwelling, quality of construction and condition of dwellings, square footage of
living area, and story height. Delineation can include the physical drawing of neighborhood
boundary lines on a map but it can also involve statistical separation or stratification based
on attribute analysis. Part of neighborhood analysis is the consideration of discernible
patterns of growth that influence a neighborhood's individual market.
8.7 Considerations by Property Type

Properties are appraised using the most applicable approach to value by category of
property; sales comparison, cost or income approach. Figure 8.1 represents the various
categories of property, the method of appraisal used for each category and the percentage
of frequency of each method.
Figurc 8.7: Considerations by Property Type

APPROACH to VALUE

cosT

INCOME

Residential

90

L0

B1

Residential Multi-familv

CATEGORY

SALES

90

10

B2 Commercial Multi-family

10

10

80

C1 Residential Land
C2 Commercial Land

100

100

100

Agricultural lmproved
F1 Commercial

90

10

10

10

BO

D
E

Rural Land

COMMENT
Market comparison with cost approach to support
Market comparison with cost approach to support
lncome used backed by sales. Cost used when other
data not available.

Agricultural open space value on productivity value

Market comparison with cost approach to support
lncome used baked by sales. Cost used when other
data not available.
Consideration siven to units of oroduction

F2 lndustrial

90

G1 Non-producine Mineral

1"00

Utilities

90

L1
L2

Business Personal Propertv

100

lndustrial Personal Property

Manufactured Homes
lnventory
Special lnventory

Consideration given to units of production

lnformation received from renditions
lnformation received from renditions

M
O

5
X

Exempt

100

0
n

100

Cost approach using NADA pricing guide for support

100

100

Builders' inventory based on builders' data.

lnformation from monthly dealers' inventory reports
Dependent upon type of propertv

36

lPage

3TlPage

IX. Preparation of Appraisal Roll

Preparation of the appraisal roll requires the District to mail notices of applications for
exemptions, agricultural or special use values and then process the responses. The district
publishes notices in the local media of these application requirements.
The records are reviewed for accuracy and equity. ln early March, departrnents flag records
that are incomplete. This includes any records that are contracted for appraisal by our
outside appraisal firm, Capitol Appraisal Group, lnc. As the work is completed, the flags are
released.
Records are listed in their entirety to include the identity of the property owner, their
address, market value of land and improvements separately, as well as the taxable value and
the situs or location of the property. The exception to this is the identity of certain property
owners who by law have been permitted to keep their address confidential.

a Notice of Appraised Value to all properties whose accounts have been

released. ln 20L5, a reappraisal year, all properties will receive a Notice. ln 2016 only
EPCAD sends

properties meeting the requirements under 25.L9 (a) will receive a Notice. These are:

Properties whose values have increased over 2015 over the limit set by the district

board of directors, except for homesteaded properties whose values have changed
by more than this limit, either increased or decreased.

Properties whose owners have submitted a rendition of value but the appraised
value is higher than the value rendered.
o

The property was not on the roll in the previous year.

Properties whose ownership has changed.

Notices for single-family residential properties are mailed by April 1, the remainder are
mailed by May 31. Addltional notices are sent as the accounts are released.

for review and determination of

hearings in the form and content as required by Section 25.OL and 25.02 of the Texas
Property Tax Code. The chief appraiser submits an affidavit that the records are complete in
as much as can be determined. The affidavit also states that the values have been
By May L5 the district submits the appraisal roll to the ARB

determined as required by law.

Once the roll has been submitted to the ARB, changes to the roll requires submission of a
motion under Section 41.10, Correction of Records on Recommendation of Chief Appraiser,
to the ARB for approval. lf the change will result in an increase in tax liability, a 41.1.L notice
of the change is sent to the property owner informing them of their right to protest the
change.

The law requires the ARB to complete their work and approve the records by July 20 or as
soon as possible thereafter. Their duties include hearing and determining protests and

33lPage

challenges. The law accepts a level of completion as 95%of

thetotalvalue of the properties

in the district. This action is referred to as certifying the roll. This certified roll constitutes the
appraisal roll for the district in accordance with Texas Property Tax Code, Section 25.24.

39

IPage

X.

Defense of Values

Evidence used in informal hearings is garnered from information available within the CAMA

system and photos on

file.

Evidence

to be used to meet its burden of proof in formal

hearings includes information from the property owner presented during informal hearings
and the information specified in the Figure 10.1-. lnformation to assist residential property
owners in preparing for a hearing for unequalvalue is available upon request.

Figure 70.7 Vdlue Defense

CATEGORY

A Residential
B1 Residential Multi-familv
B2 Commercial Multi-familv

Cl

Residential Land

C2 Commercial

Land

Rural Land

Asriculturallmproved

F1 Commercial
F2 lndustrial
G1 Non-producins Mineral

Utilities

L1
L2

Business Personal Prooertv

Industrial Personal
Propertv
M Manufactured Homes
O lnventory

S
X

EVIDENCE USED IN VALUE DEFENSE

Confirmed sales of similar properties and District ratio and equitv studies
Confirmed sales of similar properties and District ratio and equity studies
Cost tables from Marshall & Swift. lncome models derived from income and sales
Confirmed sales of similar properties and District ratio and equitv studies
Sa

les

Confirmed sales of similar properties and District ratio and equity studies.
Agricultural and open space land uses productivity value to support price per acre.
Confirmed sales of similar properties and District ratio and equity studies
Cost tables from Marshall & Swift. lncome models derived from income and sales
Cost tables from Marshall & Swift and industrv standards
Sales when available
Cost tables from Marshall & Swift and industrv standards
Cost less depreciation from renditions
Cost less depreciation from renditions
Confirmed sales of similar properties and information from NADA pricing guide.
lnformation provided by owner and/or information on similar properties

Special lnventory

Dealer Monthly Inventory reports

ExemDt

Dependent upon type of property

40

lPage

xt.

Maintenance of

Propefi

Data

The ARB will issue an Order Determining Protest to advise the property owner of the result
of their hearing. The district must change the appraisal roll to reflect these changes. Any
changes that are required after the roll has been certified must be supplemented and
submitted to the ARB in order to maintain the integrity of the records.
A property owners may appeal the decision of the Appraisal Review Board to an arbitrator or
to District Court. Any decisions to change the records coming from a decision from these

venues or from a settlement agreement entered into by the property owner and the district,
must also be supplemented.

After certification the district will run new ratio studies to measure and evaluate the
accuracy and uniformity of the new values. This study is part of a summary of the
achievements of the appraisal activities and become the starting point to determine the
extent of the work in the next appraisal cycle. The activities include capturing data on new
construction, data from building permits, new utility installations and subdivision plats in
addition to the routine rechecks done either using orthophotography and oblique
photography or field inspection.

ln 2016 this is not anticipated as being a complete reappraisal. lt will only address regular
data collection activities as well as address market areas where values do not rneet
acceptable standards.
Values are also updated as a result of ratio studies, ongoing market analysis to identify

trendingfactors based on size, location, age and other market influences. Supportingtables
are adjusted to reflect the new information.
It should be noted that in 2015 the Texas Legislature meets and may enact new legislation
that may change the rnanner, substance and or content of this document.

41

lPage

Xll. Mass Appraisal and Annual Reports

The Mass Appraisal Report will be attached to this document in Appendix G, after the
completion of each appraisal year covered by this plan. This report is a recap of the
reappraisal year. The Mass Appraisal Report for 2015 will be available in September 2015.
The Mass Appraisal Report far 2016 will be available in September 20!6.
The Annual Report summarizes the statistical results of the year and highlights special
activities of interest to the public and the governing bodies of the entities we serve. lt is
normally available at the same time as the Mass Appraisal Report and is posted to the
district's website. lt will appear in Appendix H.

42lPage

Appendix A: Statutes

Appendix B: Ratio Studies

Appendix C: Organizational Chart and Department Calendar of Events

Appendix D: Budget 2OL4-2O15

Appendix E: Capitot Appraisal Group

Appendix F: Glossary

Appendix G: Mass Appraisal Reports

Appendix H: Annual Reports

43

lPage

APPE,NDIXA

PROPERTY TAX CODES and STANDARDS

Sec. 1.04. DEFINITIONS. ln thistitle:

(1) "Property" means any matter or thing capable of private ownership.

(2) "Real property" means:
(A) land;
(B) an improvement;
(C) a mine or quarry;
(D) a mineral in place;
(E) standing timber; or
(F) an estate or interest, other ihan a mortgage or deed of trust creating a lien

on

property or an interest securing payment or performance of an obligation, in a property enumerated in Paragraphs (A)
through (E) of this subdivision.
(3) "lmprovement" means:
(A) a building, structure, fixture, or fence erected on or affixed to land;
(B) a transportable structure that is designed to be occupied for residential or business
purposes, whether or not it is affixed to land, if the owner of the structure owns the land on which it is located, unless
the structure is unoccupied and held for sale or normally is located at a particular place only temporarily; or
(C) for purposes of an entity created under Seciion 52, Article lll, or Seciion 59, Article
XVI, Texas Consiiiution, the:
(i) subdivision of land by plat;
(ii) installation of water, sewer, or drainage lines; or
(iii) paving of undeveloped land.
(3-a) Notwithstanding anything contained herein tothe contrary, a manufactured home is an
improvement to real property only if the owner of the home has elected to treat the manufactured horne as real
property pursuant to Section 1201 .2055, Occupaiions Code, and a certified copy of the staternent of ownership and
location has been filed with the real property records of the county in which the home is located as provided In
Section 1201.2055(d), Occupations Code.
(4) "Personal property" means prope(y that is not real property.
(5) "Tangible personal property" means personal property that can be seen, weighed, measured,
felt, or othennrise perceived by the senses, but does not include a docurnent or other perceptible object thai
constitutes evidence of a valuable interest, claim, or right and has negligible or no intrinsic value.
(6) "lntangible personal property" means a claim, interest (other than an interest in tangible
property), right, or other thing that has value but cannot be seen, felt, weighed, measured, or othenrvise perceived by
the senses, although its existence may be evidenced by a document. lt includes a stock, bond, note or account
receivable, franchise, license or permit, demand or time deposit, certificate of deposit, share account, share certificate
account, share deposit account, insurance policy, annuity, pension, cause of action, contract, and goodwill.
(7) "Market value" means the price at which a property would transfer for cash or its equivalent
under prevailing market condiiions if:
(A) exposed for sale in the open market with a reasonable time for the seller to find a
purchaser;
(B) both the seller and the purchaser know of all the uses and purposes to which the
property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used and of the enforceable restrictions on its use; and
(C) both the seller and purchaser seek to maximize their gains and neither is in a
position to take advantage of the exigencies of the other,
(8) "Appraised value" means the value determined as provided by Chapter 23 of this code.
(9) "Assessed value" means, for the purposes of assessment of property for taxation, the amount
determined by multiplying the appraised value by the applicable assessment ratio, but, for the purposes of
determining the debt limitation imposed by Article lll, Section 52, of ihe Texas Constitution, shall mean the market
value of the property recorded by the chief appraiser.
(10) "Taxable value" means ihe amount determined by deducting from assessed value the
amount of any applicable partial exemption.
(1 1) "Partial exemption" means an exemption of pari of the value of taxable property.
(12) "Taxing unit" means a county, an incorporated city ortown (including a home-rule city), a
school district, a special district or auihority (including a junior college district, a hospital district, a district created by
or pursuant to the Water Code, a mosquito control district, a fire prevention district, or a noxious weed conirol district),
or any other political unit of this state, whether created by or pursuant to the constitution or a local, special, or general
law, that is authorized to impose and is imposing ad valorem taxes on propefiy even if the governing body of another
political unit determines the tax rate for the unit or otherwise governs its affairs.
(13) "Tax year" means the calendar year.
(14) "Assessor" means the officer or employee responsible for assessing property taxes as
provided by Chapter 26 of this code for a iaxing unit by whatever title he is designated.
(15) "Collector" means the officer or employee responsible for collecting property taxes for a
taxing unit by whatever title he is designated,

(16) "Possessory interest" means an interest that exists as a result of possession or exclusive
use or a right to possession or exclusive use of a property and that is unaccompanied by ownership of a fee simple or
life estate in the property. However, "possessory interest" does not include an interest, whether of limited or
indeterminate duration, that involves a right to exhaust a portion of a real property.
(17) "Conservation and reclamation district" means a district created underArticle lll, Section 52,
orArticleXVl, Section 59, of theTexas Constitution, orunder a statute enacted underArticle lll, Section 52, orArticle
XVl, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution.
(18) "Clerical error" means an error:
(A) that is or results from a mistake orfailure in writing, copying, transcribing, entering or
retrieving computer data, computing, or calculating; or
(B) thai prevents an appraisal roll or a tax roll from accurately reflecting a flnding or
determination rnade by the chief appraiser, the appraisal review board, or the assessor; however, "clerical error"
does not include an error that is or results from a mistake in judgment or reasoning in the making of the flnding or
determination,
(19) "Comptroller" means the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas.

Sec. 5.102. REVIEW OF APPRAISAL DISTRICTS. (a) At least once every two years, the comptroller
shall reviewthe governance of each appraisal district, taxpayer assistance provided, and the operating and appraisal
standards, procedures, and methodology used by each appraisal district, to determine compliance with generally
accepted standards, procedures, and methodology. After consultation with the advisory commlttee created under
Section 403.302, Government Code,.the comptroller by rule may esiablish procedures and standards for conducting
and scoring the review.
(b) ln conducting the review, the comptroller is entitled to access to all records and reports of the appraisal
district, to copy or print any record or report of the appraisal district, and to the assistance of the appraisal district's
officers and employees.
(c) At the conclusion of the review, the comptroller shall, in writing, notify the appraisal district concerning
its performance in the review. If the review results in a finding that an appraisal district is not in compliance with
generally accepted standards, procedures, and methodology, the comptroller shall deliver a report that details the
comptroller's flndings and recommendations for improvement to:
(1) the appraisal districfs chief appraiser and board of directors; and
(2) the superintendent and board oftrustees ofeach school district participating in the appraisal
district.

(d) lf the appraisal district fails to comply with the recommendations in the report and the comptroller finds
that the board of directors of the appraisal district failed to take remedial action reasonably designed to ensure
substantial compliance with each recommendation in the report before the first anniversary of the date the report was
issued, the comptroller shall notify the Board of Tax Professional Examiners, or a successor to the board, which shall
take action necessary to ensure ihat the recommendations in the report are implemented as soon as practicable.
(e) Before February 1 of the year following the year in which the Board of Tax Professional Examiners, or
its successor; takes action under Subsection (d), and with the assistance of the comptroller, the board shall
delermine whether the recommendations in the most recent report have been substantially implemented. The
presiding officer of the board shall notify the chief appraiser and the board of directors of the appraisal district in
writlng of the board's determination.

Sec. 22.01. RENDITION GENERALLY. (a) Except as provided by Chapter 24, a person shall render for
taxation all tangible personal property used for the production of income that the person owns or that the person
manages and controls as a fiduciary on January 1. A rendition statement shall contain:
(1) the name and address of the property owner;
(2) a description of the property by type or category;
(3) if the property is inventory, a description of each iype of inventory and a general estimate of
the quantity of each type of inventory;
(4) the physical location or taxable situs of the properiy; and
(5) the property owner's good faith esiimate of the market value of the property or, at the option
of the property owner, the historical cost when new and the year of acquisition of the property.
(b) When required by the chief appraiser, a person shall render for taxation any other taxable property that
he owns or that he manages and controls as a fiduciary on January 1.
(c) A person may render for taxation any property that he owns or that he manages and controls as a
fiduciary on January 1, although he is not required to render it by Subsection (a) or (b) of this section.

(c-1) ln this section:

(1) "Securedparty"hasthemeaningassignedbySection9.l02,Business&ComrnerceCode.

(2) "Security interest"

has the meaning assigned by Section 1.201, Business & Commerce Code.

(c-2) With the consent of the property owner, a secured party may render for taxation any property of the
property owner in which the secured party has a security interest on January 1, although the secured party is not
required to render the property by Subsection (a) or (b). This subsection applies only to property that has a historical
cost when new of more than $50,000.
(d) A fiduciary who renders property shall indicate his fiduciary capacity and shall state the name and
address of the owner.
(d-1) A secured party who renders property under Subsection (c-2) shall indicate the party's status as a
secured party and shall state the name and address of the property owner. A secured party is not liable for
inaccurate information included on the rendition statement if the property owner supplied the information or for failure
to timely file the rendition statement if the prope(y owner failed to prompily cooperate with the secured party. A
secured party may rely on information provided by the property owner with respect to:
(1) the accuracy of information in the rendition statement;
(2) the appraisal district in which the rendition statement must be flled; and
(3) compliance with any provisions of this chapter that require the property owner to supply
additional information.
(e) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b), a person is not required to render for taxation cotton thai:
(1) the person manages and controls as a fiduciary;
(2) is stored in a warehouse for which an exemption for cotton has been granted under Section

11.437; and

(3) the person intends to transpori ouiside of the state within the time permitted by Article Vlll,
Section 1-j, of the Texas Consiitution for cotton to qualifiT for an exemption under that section.
(f) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b), a rendition statement of a person who owns tangible personal
property used for the production of income located in the appraisal district that, in the owner's opinion, has an
aggregate value of less than $20,000 is required to contain only:
(1) the name and address of the property owner;
(2) a general description of the property bytype orcategory; and
(3) the physical location or taxable situs of the property.

(g) A person's good faith estimate

of ihe market value of the property under Subsection (a)(5) is solely for
the purpose of compliance with the requirement to render tangible personal property and is inadmissible in any
subsequent protest, hearing, appeal, suit, or other proceeding under this title involving the property, except for:
(1) a proceeding to determine whether the person complied with this section;
(2) a proceeding under Section 22.29(b); or
(3) a protest under Section 41.41,
(h) lf the property that is the subject of the rendition is regulated by the Public Utiliiy Commission of Texas,
the Railroad Commission of Texas, the federal Surface Transportation Board, or the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, ihe owner of the property is considered to have complied with the requirements of this section if the
ownerprovides to the chief appraiser, on wriiten request of the chief appraiser, a copy of the annual regulatory report
covering ihe prope(y and sufficient information to enable the chief appraiser to allocate the value of the property
among the appropriate taxing units for which the appraisal district appraises property.
(i) Subsection (a) does not apply to a property owner whose property is subject to appraisal by a third
party retained by the appraisal district if the property owner provides information substantially equivalent to that

required by Subsection (a) regarding the property directly to the third party appraiser.
Subsection (a) does not apply to property that is exempt from taxation.
(k) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b), an individual who has been granted or has applied for an
exemption frorn taxation under Section 11.254 for a motor vehicle the individual owns is not required to render the
motor vehicle for taxation.
(l) If the information contained in ihe most recent rendition statement filed by a person in a prior tax year is
accurate wiih respect to the current iax year, ihe person may comply with the requirements of Subsection (a) by flling
a rendition statement on a form prescribed or approved by the comptroller under Section 22.24(c) on which the
person has checked the appropriate boxto affirm that the information coniinues to be complete and accurate.
(m) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b), a person is not required to renderfortaxation personal
property appraised under Section 23.24.

Sec. 23.01. APPRAISALS GENERALLY. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, all taxable
property is appraised at its market value as of January 1.
(b) The market value of property shall be determined by the application of generally accepted appraisal
methods and techniques. lf the appraisal district determines the appraised value of a property using mass appraisal
standards, the mass appraisal standards must comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
The same or similar appraisal methods and techniques shall be used in appraising the same or similar kinds of

property. However, each property shall be appraised based upon the individual characteristics that affect the
property's market value, and all available evidence that is speciflc to the value of the property shall be taken into
account in determining the property's market value.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1 .04(7XC), in determining ihe market value of a residence homestead, the
chief appraiser may not exclude from consideration the value of other residential property that is in the same
neighborhood as the residence homestead being appraised and would othenrvise be considered in appraising the
residence homestead because the other residential property:
(1) was sold at a foreclosure sale conducted in any of the three years preceding the tax year in
which the residence homestead is being appraised and was comparable at the time of sale based on relevant
characteristics with oiher residence homesteads in the same neighborhood; or
(2) has a market value that has declined because of a declining economy.
(d) The market value of a residence homestead shall be determined solely on the basis of the property's
value as a residence homestead, regardless of whether the residential use of the property by the owner is considered
to be the highest and best use ofthe propefly.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of ihis subchapter to ihe contrary, if the appraised value of property in a
tax year is lowered under Subtitle F, the appraised value of the property as finally determined under that subtitle is
considered to be the appraised value of the property for that tax year. ln the following tax year, the chief appraiser
may not increase the appraised value of the property unless the increase by the chief appraiser is reasonably
supported by substantial evidence when all of the reliable and probative evidence in the record is considered as a
whole. lf the appraised value is finally determined in a protest under Section a1. 1@)(2) or an appeal under Section
42.26, lhe chief appraiser may satisfy the requirement to reasonably support by substantial evidence an increase in
the appraised value of the property in ihe following tax year by presenting evidence showing that the inequality in the
appraisal of property has been corrected with regard to the properties that were considered in determining the value
of the subject property. The burden of proof is on the chief appraiser to support an increase in the appraised value of
properiy under the circumstances described by this subsection.

Sec, 23.011. COST METHOD OF APPRAISAL. lf the chief appraiser uses the cost method of appraisal
to determine the market value of real property, the chief appraiser shall:
(1) use cost data obtained from generally accepted sources;
(2) make any appropriaie adjustment for physical, functional, or economic obsolescence;
(3) make available to the public on request cost data developed and used by the chief appraiser
as applied to all propertles within a property category and may charge a reasonable fee to the public for the data;
(4) clearly state the reason for any variation between generally accepted cost daia and locally
produced cost data if the data vary by more than 1 0 percent; and
(5) make available to the property owner on request all applicable market data that demonstrate
the difference between the replacement cost of the improvements to the property and the depreciated value of the
improvements.

Sec. 23.24. FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT. (a) If real property is appraised by a method
that takes into account the value of furniture, fixtures, and equipment in or on the real property, the furniture, fixtures,
and equipment shall not be subject to additional appraisal or taxation as personal properiy.
(b) ln determining the market value of the real property appraised on the basis of rental income, the chief
appraiser may not separately appraise or take into accouni any personal property valued as a portion of the income
of the real property, and the market value of the real property must include the combined value of the real property
and the personal property.
Sec. 25.01. PREPARATION OF APPRAISAL RECORDS. (a) By May 15 or as soon thereafter as
practicable, the chief appraiser shall prepare appraisal records listing all property that is taxable in the district and
I
stating the appraised value of
(b) fhe chief appraiser with the approval of the board of directors of the district may contract with a private
appraisal firm to perform appraisal services for the district, subject to his approval. A contract for private appraisal
services is void if the amount of compensation to be paid the private appraisal flrm is coniingent on the amount of or
increase in appraised, assessed, or taxable value of property appraised by the appraisal firm.
(c) A contract for appraisal services for an appraisal district is invalid if it does not provide that copies of
the appraisal, together with supporting daia, must be made available to the appraisal district and such appraisals and
supporting data shall be public records. "supporting data" shall not be construed to include personal notes,
correspondence, working papers, thought processes, or any other matters of a privileged or proprietary nature.

each.

Sec. 25.07. LEASEHOLD AND OTHER POSSESSORY INTERESTS lN EXEMPT PROPERTY. (a)
Except as provided by Subseciion (b) of this section, a leasehold or other possessory inierest in real property that is

exempt from taxation to the owner of the estate or interest encumbered by the possessory interest shall be listed in
ihe name of ihe owner of the possessory interest if the duration of the interest may be at least one year.
(b) Except as provided by Sections 11.1 1(b) and (c), a leasehold or other possessory interest in exempt
property may not be listed if:
(1) the property is permanent university fund land;
(2) the property is county public school fund agricultural land;
(3) the property is a part of a public transporiation facility owned by a municipality or county and:
(A) is an airport passengerterminal building or a building used primarily for maintenance
of aircraft or other aircraft services, for aircraft equipment storage, or for air cargo;
(B) is an airpo( fueling system facility;
(C) is in a foreign{rade zone;
(i) that has been granted to a joint airport board under Subchapter C, Chapter
68'l , Business & Commerce Code;
(ii) the area of which in the portion of the zone located in the airpod operated
by the joint airport board does not exceed 2,500 acres; and
(iii) that is established and operating pursuant to federal law; or
(D)(i) is in a foreign trade zone established pursuani to federal law after June 1, 1991 ,
that operates pursuant to federal law;
(ii) is contiguous to or has access via a taxiway to an airport located in two
counties, one of which has a population of 500,000 or more according to the federal decennial census mosi recently
preceding the establishment of the foreign trade zone; and
(iii) is owned, directly or through a corporation organized under the
Development Corporation Act (Subtitle C1, Title 12, Local Government Code), by the same municipality that owns the
airport;
(4) the interest is in a part of:
(A) a park, market, fairground, or similar public facility that is owned by a municipality; or
(B) a convention center, visitor center, sports facilitywith permanent seating, concert
hall, arena, or stadium that is owned by a municipality as such leasehold or possessory interest serves a
governmental, municipal, or public purpose or function when the facility is open to the public, regardless of whether a
fee is charged for admission;
(5) the interest involves only the right to use the property for grazing or other agricultural
purposes;
(6) the property is:
(A) owned by a municipality, a public port, or a navigation district created or operating
under Section 59, Article XVl, Texas Constitution, or under a statute enacted under Section 59, Article XVl, Texas
Constitution; and
(B) used as an aid or facility incidental to or useful in the operation or development of a
port or watenvay or in aid of navigation-related commerce; or
(7) the property is part of a rail facility owned by a rural rail transportation district operating under
Chapter 172, Transportation Code.
(c) Subsection (a) does not applyto:
(1) any portion of a facility owned by the Texas Department of Transportation that is a rail facility
or system or is a highway in the state highway system and that is licensed or leased to a private entity by that
department under Chapter 91 or 223, Transportation Code; or
(2) a leasehold or other possessory interesi granted by the Texas Department of Transportation
|n a facility owned by that department that is a rail facility or system or is a highway in the state highway system.
Sec. 25.18. PERIODIC REAPPRAISALS. (a) Each appraisal offlce shall implement the plan for periodic
reappraisal of property approved by the board of directors under Section 6.05(U.
(b) Theplanshall provideforthefollowingreappraisal activitiesforall real andpersonal propertyinthe
district at least once every three years:
(1) identifying properties to be appraised through physical inspection or by other reliable means
of identification, including deeds or other legal documentation, aerial photographs, Iand-based photographs, surveys,
maps, and property sketches;
(2) identifying and updating relevant characteristics of each property in the appraisal records;
(3) deflning market areas in the district;
(4) identifying property characteristics that affect property value in each market area, including:
(A) the location and market area of property;
(B) physical attributes of property, such as size, age, and condition;
(C) legal and economic attributes; and
(D) easements, covenants, Ieases, reservations, contracts, declarations, special
assessments, ordinances, or legal restrictions;

(5) developing an appraisal model that reflects the relationship among the property
characteristics affecting value In each market area and determines the contribution of individual property.
characteristics;
(6) applying the conclusions reilected in the model to the characteristics of the properties being
appraised; and
(7) reviewing the appraisal results to determine value.
(c) A taxing unit by resolution adopted by its governing body may require the appraisal office to appraise
all property within the unit or to identify and appraise newly annexed territory and new improvements in the unit as of
a date specified in the resolution, On or before the deadline requested by ihe taxing unit, which deadline may not be
less than 30 days after the date the resolution is delivered to the appraisal office, the chief appraiser shall complete
the appraisal and deliver to the unit an estimate of the toial appraised value of property taxable by the unit as of the
daie specified in such resolution. The unit must pay the appraisal district for the cost of making the appraisal. The
chief appraiser shall provide sufficient personnel to make ihe appraisals required by this subsection on or before the
deadline requested by the taxing unit. An appraisal made pursuant to this subsection may noi be used by a taxing
unit as the basis for the imposition of taxes.
Sec. 25.19. NOTICE OF APPRAISED VALUE. (a) By April 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable if the
property is a single-family residence that qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13, or by May 1 or as soon
thereafter as practicable in connection with any other property, the chief appraiser shall deliver a clear and
understandable writien notice to a properiy owner of the appraised value of ihe property owner's property if:
(1) the appraised value of the properiy is greater than it was in the preceding year;
(2) the appraised value of the property is greater than the value rendered by the property owner;
or

(3) the property was not on the appraisal roll in the preceding year.

(b) The chief appraiser shall separate real from personal property and include
(1) a list of the taxing units in which the property is taxable;

in

ihe notice for each:

(2) the appraised value of the property in the preceding year;

(3) the taxable value of the property in the preceding year for each taxing unit taxing the property;
(4) the appraised value of the property for the current year and the kind and amount of each
padial exemption, if any, approved for the current year;
(5) if the appraised value is greater than it was in the preceding year, the amount of tax that
would be imposed on the property on the basis of the tax rate for the preceding year;
(6) in italic typeface, the following statement: "The Texas Legislature does not set the amount of
your local taxes. Your properiy tax burden is decided by your locally elected officials, and all inquiries concerning
your taxes should be directed to those officials";
(7) a detailed explanation of the time and procedure for protesting the value;
(8) the date and place the appraisal review board will begin hearing protests; and
(9) a brief explanation that the governing body of each taxing unit decides whether or not taxes
on the property will increase and the appraisal district only determines the value of the property.
(b-1) For real property, in addition to the information required by Subsection (b), the chief appraiser shall
siate in a notice required to be delivered under Subsection (a), the difference, expressed as a percent increase or
decrease, as applicable, in the appraised value of the property for the current tax year as compared to the fifth tax
year before the current tax year.
(b-2) This subsection applies only to a notice of appraised value for residential real property that has not
qualified for a residence homestead exemption in the current tax year. lf the records of the appraisal districi indicate
that the address of the property is also the address of the owner of the property, in addition to containing the
applicable information required by Subsections (b), (b-1), and (l), the notice must contain the following statement in
boldfaced 12-point type: "According to the records of the appraisal district, the residential real property described in
this notice of appraised value is not currently being allowed a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem
taxation. lf the properiy is your home and you occupy it as your principal place of residence, the property may qualify
for one o[ more residence homestead exemptions, which will reduce the amount of taxes imposed on the property.
The form needed to apply for a residence homestead exemption is enclosed. Although the form may state ihat the
deadline for filing an application for a residence homestead exemption is April 30, a late application for a residence
homestead exemption will be accepted if filed before February 1 , (insert year applicaiion must be filed). There is no
fee or charge for filing an application or a late application for a residence homestead exemption." The notice must be
accompanied by an application form for a residence homestead exernption.
(c) ln the case of the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older or disabled that is subject
to the limiiation on a iax increase over the preceding year for school tax purposes, the chief appraiser shall indicate
on the notice that the preceding year's taxes may not be increased.
(d) Failure to receive a notice required by this section does not affect the validity of the appraisal of the
property, the imposition of any tax on the basis of the appraisal, the existence of any tax lien, the deadline for filing an
application for a residence homestead exemption, or any proceeding instituted to collect the tax.

(e) The chief appraiser, with the approval of the appraisal district board of directors, may dispense with the
notice required by Subsection (a)(1) if the amount of increase in appraised value is $1 ,000 or less.
(0 ln the notice of appraised value for real property, ihe chief appraiser shall list separately:
(1) the marketvalue of the land; and
(2) the total market value of the structures and other improvements on the property.
(g) By April 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable if the property is a single-family residence that qualifies
for an exempiion under Section 1 1 .13, or by May 1 or as soon thereafter as praciicable in connection with any other
propefty, the chief appraiser shall deliver a written notice to the owner of each property not included in a notice
required to be delivered under Subsection (a), if the property was reappraised in the curreni tax year, if the ownership
of the property changed during the preceding year, or if the property owner or the agent of a property owner
authorized under Section 1 .1 1 1 makes a written request for the notice. The chief appraiser shall separate real from
personal property and include in the notice for each property:
(1) the appraised value of the properiy in the preceding year;
(2) the appraised value of the property for the current year and the kind of each partial
exemption, if any, approved for the current year;
(3) a detailed explanation of the time and procedure for protesting the value; and
(4) the date and place the appraisal review board will begin hearing protests.
(h) A notice required by Subsection (a) or (g) musi be in the form of a letter.
(i) Delivery with a notice required by Subsection (a) or (g) of a copy of the parnphlet published by the
comptroller under Section 5.06 or a copy of the notice published by the chief appraiser under Section 41 .70 is
sufficient to comply with the requirement that the notice include the information specified by Subsection (b)(7) or
(g)(3), as applicable.
O The chief appraiser shall include with a notice required by Subsection (a) or (g):
(1) a copy of a noiice of protest form as prescribed by the compiroller under Section 4 .aap);
and
(2) instructions for completing and mailing the form to the appraisal review board and requesting
a hearing on the protest.
(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the chief appraiser may not deliver a written notice
concerning property that is required to be rendered or reported under Chapter 22 until after the applicable deadline
for filing the rendition statement or property report.
Sec. 25.24. APPRAISAL ROLL. The appraisal records, as changed by order of the appraisal review
board and approved by that board, constitute the appraisal roll for the district.

Sec.41.10. CORREGTION OF RECORDS ON RECOMMENDATION OF CHIEF APPRAISER. At any

time before approval of the appraisal records as provided by Section 41 .12 of this code, the chief appraiser may
submit written recommendations to the appraisal review board for corrections in the records. lf the board approves a
recommended correction and it will not result in an increase in the tax liability of a property owner, the board may
make the correction by written order.

Sec. 41.12. APPROVAL OF APPRAISAL REGORDS BY BOARD. (a) By July 20, the appraisal review
board shall:

(1)

hear and determine all or substantially all timely filed protests;

(2) determlne alltimely filed challenges;

(3) submii a list of its approved changes
(4) approve ihe records.

in the records to the chief appraiser; and

(b) The appraisal review board must complete substantially all iimelyfiled protests before approving the
appraisal records and may not approve the records if ihe sum of the appraised values, as determined by the chief
appraiser, of all properties on which a protest has been filed but not determined is more than five percent of the total
appraised value of all other taxable properties.
(c) The board of directors of an appralsal district established for a county with a population of at least one
million by resolution may:
(1 ) postpone ihe deadline established by Subseciion (a) for the performance of the functions
listed in that subsection to a date not later than August 30; or
(2) provide that the appraisal review board may approve the appraisal records if the sum of the
appraised values, as determined by the chief appraiser, of all properties on which a protes! has been filed but not
determined does not exceed 10 percent of the total appraised value of ail other taxable properties.
Sec. 41.67. EVIDENCE. (a) A member of the appraisal review board may swear witnesses who testifiT in
proceedings under this chapter. All 'testimony must be given under oath.

(b) Documentary evidence may be admitted in the form of a copy if the appraisal review board conducting
the proceeding determines that the original document is not readily available. A party is entitled to an opportunity to
compare a copy with the original document on request.
(c) Official notice may be taken of any fact judicially cognizable. A party is entiiled to an opportunity to
contest facts officially noticed.
(d) Information that was previously requested under Section 41.461 by the protesting party that was not
made available to the protesting party at least 14 days before the scheduled or postponed hearing may not be used
as evidence in the hearing.
Sec. 42.26. REMEDY FOR UNEQUAL APPRAISAL. (a) The district court shallgrant relief on the
ground that a property is appraised unequally if:
(1) the appraisal ratio of the properiy exceeds by at least 1 0 percent the median level of appraisal
of a reasonable and representative sample of other properties in the appraisal district;
(2) the appraisal ratio of the property exceeds by at least 10 percent the median level of appraisal
of a sample of properties in the appraisal district consisting of a reasonable number of other properties similarly
situated to, or of the same general kind or character as, the property subject to the appeal; or
(3) the appraised value of the property exceeds the median appraised value of a reasonable
number of comparable properties appropriately adjusted.
(b) lf a property owner is entitled to relief under Subsection (a)(1), the court shall order the property's
appraised value changed to the value as calculated on the basis of the median level of appraisal according to
Subsection (a)(1). lf a property owner is entitled to relief under Subsection (a)(2), the court shall order the property's
appraised value changed to the value calculated on the basis of the median level of appraisal accordlng to
Subsection (aX2). lf a property owner is entitled to relief under Subsection (a)(3), the court shall order the property's
appraised value changed to the value calculated on the basis of the median appraised value according to Subsection
(a)(3). lf a property owner is entitled to relief under more than one subdivision of Subsection (a), the court shall order
the property's appraised value changed to the value that results in the lowest appraised value. The coutt shall
determine each applicable median level of appraisal or median appraised value according to law, and is not required
to adopt the median level of appraisal or median appraised value proposed by a party to the appeal. The court may
not limit or deny relief to the property owner entitled to relief under a subdivision of Subsection (a) because the
appraised value determined according to another subdivision of Subsection (a) results in a higher appraised value.
(c) For purposes of establishing the median level of appraisal under Subsection (a)(1), the median level of
appraisal in the appraisal district as determined by the comptroller under Section 5.10 is admissible as evidence of
the median level of appraisal of a reasonable and representative sample of properties in the appraisal district for the
year of the comptroller's determination, subject to the Texas Rules of Evidence and the Texas Rules of Civil
Procedure.
(d) For purposes of this section, the value of the property subject to the suit and the value of a comparable
property or sample property that is used for comparison must be the market value determined by the appraisal district
when the property is a residence homestead subject to the limitation on appraised value imposed by Section 23.23.

Sec. 403.302. DETERMINATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY VALUES. (a) The comptroller
shall conduct a study using comparable sales and generally accepted auditing and sampling techniques to determine
the total taxable value of all property in each school district. The study shall determine the taxable value of all
property and of each category of property in the district and the productivity value of all land that qualifies for
appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity and for which the owner has applied for and received a productivity
appraisal. The comptroller shall make appropriate adjusiments in the study to account for actions taken under
Chapter 41 , Education Code.
(a-1) The comptroller shall conduct a study:
(1) at least every two years in each school district for which the most recent study resulted in a
determination by the comptroller that the school districfs local value was valid: and
(2) each year in a school district for which the most recent study resulted in a determination by
the comptroller ihat ihe school district's local value was not valid.
(a-2) lf in any year the comptroller does not conduct a study, the school disirict's local value for that year is
considered to be valid.
(b) ln conducting the study, the comptroller shall determine ihe taxable value of property in each school
district:
(1) using, if appropriate, samples selecied through generally accepted sampling techniques;
(2) according to generally accepted standard valuation, statistical compilation, and analysis
techniques;

(3) ensuring that different levels of appraisal

on sold and unsold properiy do not adversely affect

the accuracy ofthe study; and

(4) ensuring that different levels of appraisal resulting from protests determined under Section
41

,43,Tax Code, are appropriately adjusted in the study.

(c) lf after conducting the study the comptroller determines that the local value for a school disirict is valid,
the local value is presumed to represent taxable value for the school district. ln the absence of that presumption,
taxable value for a school district is the state value for the school district determined by the comptroller under
Subsections (a) and (b) unless the local value exceeds the state value, in which case the taxable value for the school
district is the district's local value. ln determining whether the local value for a school district is valid, the comptroller
shall use a margin of error that does not exceed five percent unless the comptroller determines thai the size of the
sample of properties necessary to make the determination makes the use of such a margin of error not feasible, in
which case the comptroller may use a larger margin of error.
(c-1) This subsection applies only to a school district whose central administrative office is located in a
county with a population of 9,000 or less and a total area of more than 6,000 square miles. lf after conducting the
study for a tax year ihe comptroller determines that the local value for a school district is not valid, the comptroller
shall adjusi the taxable value determined under Subsections (a) and (b) as follows:
(1) for each category of property sampled and tested by the comptroller in the school district, the
comptroller shall use the weighted mean appraisal ratio determined by the study, unless the ratio is more than four
percentage points lower than the weighted mean appraisal ratio determined by the comptroller for that category of
property in the immediately preceding study, in which case the comptroller shall use the weighted mean appraisal
ratio determined in the immediately preceding study minus four percentage points;
(2) the comptroller shall use the category weighted mean appraisal ratios as adjusted under
Subdivision (1) to establish a value estimate for each category of property sampled and tested by the comptroller in
the school districi; and
(3) the value estimates established under Subdivision (2), together with ihe local tax roll value for
any categories not sampled and tested by the comptroller, less total deductions determined by the comptroller,
determine the taxable value for the school district.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "taxable value" means the market value of all taxable property less:
(1) the total dollar amount of any residence homestead exemptions lawfully granted under
Section 1 1 .13(b) or (c), Tax Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school district;
(2) one-half of the total dollar amount of any residence homestead exemptions granted under
Section 11.13(n), Tax Code; in the year that is the subject of ihe study for each school districi;
(3) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted before May 31, 1993, within a reinvestment
zone under agreements authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code;
(4) subject to Subsection (e), the total dollar amount of any capiured appraised value of property
that:
(A) is within a reinvestment zone created on or before May 31, 1999, or is proposed to
be included within the boundaries of a reinvestment zone as the boundaries of the zone and the proposed portion of
iax increment paid into the tax increment fund by a school district are described in a written notifcation provided by
the municipality or the board of directors of the zone to the governing bodies of the other taxing units in the manner
provided by former Section 31 1 .003(e), Tax Code, before May 31 , 1 999, and within the boundaries of the zone as
those boundaries existed on September 1, 1999, including subsequent improvements to the property regardless of
when made;
(B) generates taxes paid into a tax increment fund created under Chapter 311, Tax
Code, under a reinvestment zone flnancing plan approved under Section 31 1.01 1(d), Tax Code, on or before
September 1, 1999; and
(C) is eligible for tax increment flnancing under Chapter 31'l , Tax Code;
(5) the total dollar amount of any captured appraised value of property that:
(A) is within a reinvestment zone:
(i) created on or before December 31 , 2008, by a municipality with a population
of less than 18,000; and
(ii) the project plan forwhich includes the alteration, remodeling, repair, or
reconstruction of a structure that is included on ihe National Register of Historic Places and requires that a portion of
the tax increment of the zone be used for the improvement or construction of related facilities or for affordable
housing;
(B) generates school district taxes that are paid into a tax increment fund created under
Chapter 31 1, Tax Code; and
(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under Chapter 311, Tax Code;
(6) ihe total dollar amount of any exemptions granted under Section 11.251 or 11.253, Tax Code;
(7) the difference between the comptroller's estimate of the market value and the productivity
value of land that qualifies for appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity, except that the productivity value
estimated by the comptroller may not exceed the fair market value of the land;
(8) the portion of the appraised value of residence homesteads of individuals who receive a tax
limitation under Section 11 .26,Tax Code, on which school district taxes are not imposed in the year that is the
subject of the study, calculated as if the residence homesteads were appraised at the full value required by law;

(9) a poriion

of the market value of property not otherwise fully taxable by the disirict at market

value because of:

(A) action required by statute or the constitution of this siate, other than Section 11.311,
Tax Code, that, if the tax rate adopted by the dishict is applied to it, produces an amount equal to the difference
between the tax that the district would have imposed on the properiy if the property were fully taxable at market value
and the tax that the district is actually authorized to impose on the property, if this subsection does not otheruise
require that portion to be deducted; or
(B) action taken by the district under Subchapter B or C, Chapter 313, Tax Code, before
the expiration ofthe subchapter;
(10) the market value of all tangible personal property, other than manufactured homes, owned
by a family or individual and not held or used for the production of income;
(1 1) the appraised value of property the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under
Section 33.06, Tax Code;
(12) the portion of the appraised value of property the collection of delinquent taxes on which is
deferred under Section 33.065, Tax Code; and
(13) the amount by which the market value of a residence homestead to which Section 23.23,
Tax Code, applies exceeds the appraised value of that property as calculated under that section.
(d-1) For purposes of Subsection (d), a residence homestead that receives an exemption under Section
'l 1 .131 or 11 .132, Tax Code, in the year that is the subject of the study is not considered to be taxable property.
(e) The total dollar amounl deducted in each year as required by Subsection (d)(4) in a reinvestment zone
created after January 1, 1999, may not exceed the captured appraised value estimated for that year as required by
Section 31 1.011(c)(8), Tax Code, in the reinvesiment zone flnancing plan approved under Section 31 1.01 1(d), Tax
Code, before September 1 , 1999. The number of years for which the toial dollar amount may be deducted under
Subsection (d)( ) shall for any zone, including those created on or before January 1, 1999, be limited to the duration
of the zone as specifled as required by Section 31 1.011(c)(9), Tax Code, in the reinvestment zone financing plan
approvedunderSection3ll.0ll(d),TaxCode,beforeSeptember1,1999. Thetotal dollaramountdeductedunder
Subsection (dX4) for anyzone, including those created on or before January 1, 1999, may not be increased by any
reinvestment zone flnancing plan amendments that occur after Augusi 31; 1999. The total dollar amount deducted
under Subsection (d)( ) for any zone, including those created on or before January 1 , 1 999, may not be increased by
a change made after August 31 , 1999, in the portion of the tax increment retained by the school district.
(e-1) This subsection applies only to a reinvestment zone created by a municipality that has a population
of 70,000 or less and is located in a couniy in which all or part of a military installation is located. Notwithstanding
Subsection (e), if on or after January 1,2017, the municipality adopts an ordinance designating a termination date for
the zone that is later than the termination date designated in the ordinance creating the zone, the number of years for
which the total dollar amount may be deducted under Subsection ($(a) is limited to the duration of the zone as
determined under Section 311,017, Tax Code.
(D The study shall determine the values as of January 1 of each year:
(1) for a school district in which a study was conducted according to the results of the study; and
(2) for a school district in which a study was not conducted according to the market value
determined by the appraisal district that appraises property for the district, less the amounts specified by Subsection
(d).

(g) The comptroller shall publish preliminary findings, listing values by district, before February'1 of the
year following the year of the study. Prelimlnary findings shall be delivered to each school district and shall be
certifled to the commissioner of education.
(h) On request of the commissioner of education or a school district, the comptroller may audit the total
taxable value of property in a school district and may revise the study findings. The request for audii is lirnited to
correciions and changes in a school district's appraisal roll that occurred after preliminary certification of the study
findings by the comptroller. Except as otheruvise provided by this subsection, the request for audii must be Jlled with
the comptroller not later than the third anniversary of the date of the final certlfication of the study findings. The
request for audit may be filed not later than the first anniversary of the date the chief appraiser certifies a change to
the appraisal roll if the chief appraiser corrects ihe appraisal roll under Section 25,25 or 42.41, Tax Code, and the
change results in a material reduction in the total taxable value of property in the school district. The comptroller shall
certify the findings of the audlt to the commissioner of education.
(i) lf the comptroller determines in the study that the market value of property in a school district as
determined by the appraisal district that appraises property for the school district, less the total of the amounts and
values listed in Subsection (d) as determined by that appraisal dishict, is valid, the comptroller, in determining the
taxable value of property in the school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of Subsection (dX13) subkact
from the market value as determined by the appraisal district of residence homesteads to which Section 23.23,fax
Code, applies the amount by which that amount exceeds the appraised value of those properties as calculated by the
appraisal district under Section 23.23,Tax Code. lf the comptroller determines in the study that the market value of
property in a school district as determined by the appraisal district that appraises property for the school districi, less
the total of the amounts and values listed in Subsection (d) as determined by that appraisal distrlct, is not valid, the

comptroller, in determining the taxable value of property in the school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes
of Subsection (d)(13) subtract from the market value as estimated by the comptroller of residence homesteads to
which Section 23.23,Tax Code, applies the amount by which that amount exceeds the appraised value of those
properties as calculated by the appraisal district under Section 23.23, Tax Code.
O For purposes of Chapter 42, Education Code, ihe comptroller shall certify to the commissioner of
education;
(1) a flnal value for each school district computed on a residence homestead exemption under
Section 1-b(c), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, of 95,000;
(2) a final value for each school district computed on:
(A) a residence homestead exemption under Section 1-b(c), Article Vlll, Texas
Constiiution, of $15,000; and
(B) the effect of the additional limitation on tax increases under Section 1-b(d), Article
Vlll, Texas Constitution, as proposed by H.J.R. No.4, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997; and
(3) a final value for each school district computed on the effect of the reduction of the limitation
on tax increases to refleci any reduction in the school district tax rate as provided by Section 11.26(a-1), (a-2), or (a3), Tax Code, as applicable.
(-1) Expired.
(k) For purposes of Section 42.2522, Education Code, the comptroller shall certify to the commissioner of
education:
(1) a final value for each school district computed without any deduction for residence homestead
exemptions granted under Section 1 1.13(n), Tax Code; and
(2) a final value for each school district computed after deducting one-half the total dollar amount
of residence homestead exemptions granted under Section 1 1 .13(n), Tax Code.
(l) lf after conducting the study for a year the comptroller determines that a school districi is an eligible
school district, for that year and the following year the taxable value for the school district is the district's local value.
(m) Subsection (d)(9) does not apply to property that was the subject of an application under Subchapter
B or C, Chapter 313, Tax Code, made after May 1, 2009, that the comptroller recommended should be disapproved.
(m-1) The Comptroller's Prope(y Value Siudy Advisory Committee is created. The committee is
composed of:
(1) one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(2) one member of the senate, appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) two members who represent appraisal districts, appointed by the comptroller;
(4) two members who represent school districts, appointed by the comptroller; and
(5) three members appointed by the comptroller who are residents of this state and are school
district taxpayers or have exirertise in school disirict taxation or ratio studies.
(n) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the size, composition, or duration of the Compiroller's Property Value
Study Advisory Committee.
(o) The comptroller shall adopt rules governing the conduct of the study after consultaiion with the
Comptrolle/s Property Value Study Advisory Committee.

APPE,I\TDIXB

RATIO STUDIES

<f

d
m

o o
o
c; o

Fnt
<$

5t

co

f{

(o

o)

m m
o
N
N
oq
o
o o o c;

o
d

o
ol
@
n o
o
N
N
N
.i .i .i

F.

oo

@
co

@
@

N
m

o
oo
4
O o

\ \o
o

m
F.

N
6
o
6
n
m o
ci o

o
6

m
N

o)

=
ro 0N
.i j

o
E+
< .r1
EO
xd)
<d

o
N

N
m
N

.i

(o

d
N

o n
o
o
N
N
c!
F]
N

m
o

m
.i .i .i
N
N

F.

o No
@
N
o
"i .j

fis

F.

q 4oq
.i
6

0
o
0
o NN
o
j e

6
F..
N

co
an
N
6

o 4
o
o
o
o .o
o
o @
q o
q o
o o
o
j
.i .i
.i

o
d

m
o o o
.i .i

-o

9'.i
<r\
qo

E3

o
h
N
q
c

o
h
o

o
N
m
H
o o
g
-i

a
4
o
m
o
o o Ho
q o
o
.i c

m
o
o o
6
o
o

0
N
o
o o
n
o
q o
q m
o
.i

co

F.

o
o
o!
o

6
N
o N
q
o
c

-i

N N
o o No
o
o
o
o! q q
o d
d
oo

o
o
o
o

o
m
q

ci

5*
V,
LU

tr
E,

e3
fo
6

LI.J

o-

ro

d
o
ot f..
o
q C)
q o
o
d
d
.i

N
ot

+ ln m N
o oF\ o o
o
d c, c;

a
N
n o
o
o
o
o
o ci d

o
o
o
d

@
N
n
co
ot
6
o
q o
q
o c o
o d o o

d
n
d
6
o
O
q q o
o
o o o

n F\
o
F: 6
H
m @ N
F.
q o
q o
q
o e o
o o
o o o o o o

u)
o i o
o
o
ot o m 6
o
N o o n n
o
o o? co o
6 N @ d
N
6

o
o
N
o oq
.i

o
o
N
o
.i

@
o
o
o
o
q o
q
o

o
N

6
o
N

N
6
@
o 6o
a
o
q o
q q oq

il

l'.
o
q o
.i

o
q

(rn E

d-1

>o
=s
<cl
Z,i
5=

-rr,

>

az
40

AE
z.=
sA
L^o

(,L
LIJ ,O
(J_

TJ

-Z-

tro
(,F

<m

-CJ
<r!
E*

o
4

LrJ

u_

ci

d
o o Nm
@
o
t 6o o
o o
o 6o
N
6

F@

ci

Ci

c;

c0

ol

N
f..

6
o
q
o o
o o

E3
<[o

o<

d.
LU
(J
e,

d
H
o

F.

o
q
o

>c;
r.ir

?z
rOO
-Eo
=q

=9,
tA
6E
(J

.o

o
o
@
@
o
q
o)
r 4

rn
F\

o
o
q o
o)
d
o

o
ro
o
q
o n
ci o

(o
o
n
a o $
q o N
q
o
o

(o

u
0

rl
h o
4
I
N
d

n
N

N
0
6

il
@
o

F.

N
6

H
F.

N
h

z*
<ai

Eq

ol

r
6

c,

o
o o
o
.i

o co
o No6
o o
.i H

o
o
o
g

@
@
d

=d
q

tJ=

EA
ao
(9

S
E

N
N

6
N
r
q 6q q
o o

6
q o
o

o
+
o N

+
n

o)

t-

@
N
a
H
o @
o
@
o No @
o @
o

c;

CJ

cj

CJ

ci

o
o
N
n +

F.

o
o

=3
Es
I
o
6
J
J

z
o
F

zd

o
I

:!
o

a
g

U
J
J

o
o
G

tf

f;

J
J

n
o
o
& o
d
E

zt-J
U

E
4
N
J

o
J
J

N
o
d

I
cu

N
o
d,

m
o
d

n
o
o @
o
& d, t

z
q

r6 o
o
an

N
rn
N
oo
o q m
o ct o o

o
N

N
N
N
N

rt

o)

ci

N
rF. F.
n
oq
q
o o o
co

=
E
m

o
m
o
o
m m

N
6
6
N
.j

N
m

co
o
N
o
o m
t
q dq Nq o
o o
.i H d

n r
N H
q I

o
N
o

n
o
@

N
o
N

t&

o
N

oo

-i

6
N

N
o
N

x
E
@

u
=

o
o)

o!

N
o
q g o

o
@
o o
6
o q q @
d

N
a
o

o
N
o
o n
c)
d
o
q
q o
q
o o

F.

a
tr.l
tr
E.

n
o
e q
d
o

c)

a
o

o-

E
tn
U o_

<=
>o
soa
q=
lhv
LlJo

z=

u
U
g
E

o<
rr (J
(J
&,
IU

F
LL

n
q o
o
o

n
o
o
o
o

ut
o
o
q
o

q
rn

o
+

N
N
F\ F.
o
q o
o o
o o
d c; o o

(o

F.
F-

o
o
o

F\
n r
o
q
o o
o c)

n
(o

o
N

N
o
o

m
(n
o
o
o o
o
o

A
o
&

LL

UJ

sa
irO

tro
wt F,
e. l
d,

o
o o
n
LN
N
t- o
F.
o
o
F.
r'. 6
q
q
o q
c
ci o o o o

dz
do
<6t

A:

r<

o o

Lr.l

r"r

o
q o
e
j
d
H

o-

,a
uq

q q

co

o)
d
oq

o 4
a h
N

4
6
o
q

o
ol
&
h
co
o

il

o
o
o

@
6N co
o
Or
n
q @
q q n
o
o o o C;

N
N
N

<f

d
Ln
o
s
@

st

Ui

F.

--c
EH
&4

66
U
z
sa
r

o)

m
o @ o
N
o
q o n
q o
o
il
o
N
6

q o m
q
d

=
q
F
fJ

o*d
fo

o
N
o
N

F.
F\
q o
o q
o d o O
N
N

ci

z:)F

co

N
H

o
m

H
6

N
o
d

o
d, t

N
d

o
(J

o
I
o
G

o
2

&,

o
q
o

J
J

N
o
d,

o
n
o o
o
d,

l!
q

J
J

Single Family Appraisal Ratios Report by Region

Region

Counl

Median

Mean W Mean

PRD

coD

West Area

50(

100.09

L00.61

99.9:

Upper Vallev Area

1.01

6.41

164

Northeast Area

98.43

99,9

99.3

1.01

6.84

351

10L.19

102.81

101.89

1.0r.

7.67

81

99.57

100.27

98.24

t.o2

8.42

East Area

70i

700.47

!07.s7

l-01.08

Lower Vallev lnside El Paso CiW limits

1BC

101.18

101..78

10L.2

1.01

7.1

Anthony Area

t2

1.05.74

106.49

105.03

1.01

7.91.

Canutillo Area

Lt

99.9

100.53

107.01

7.34

Clint Area

7C

100.15

104.92

104.13

1.01

7.51

L01.66

1.04.4

104.39

5,93

100.64

100.08

1.0L

6.43

Central Area

San Elizario Area

6.84

City of Socorro

3C

ooo

Socorro Area Outside El Paso Citv Limits

44

100.15

10t.01

100.01

1.01

7.28

City of Horizon

9e

103.15

102.41

101.95

1.01

'1.68

2195

100.32

101.4t

100.56

t.01,

7.O7

There were not enough sales ln the Fdbens Areo ond Tornlllo Areo

Neighborhood Ratios 2AL3 Sales Run Late July 2014

Neighborhood

Median

Count

Mean

W Mean

coD

PRD

5.93

AC34013300

97.79

98.63

98.74

AC34013385

t2

106.98

108,21

108.29

5.54

AC34013450

105.04

1.01.77

100.31

1.01

5.09

AC34013ss0

96.14

96.1_5

95.87

1.69

AC34014290

97.2

99.15

98.41.

1.01

4.83

1.01

7.64

AC34014300

L2

98.12

97.32

96.63

AC34016260

t4

100.36

LO2,L2

101".57

1.01

6.96
6.81

AC340L9270

L4

102.31

101.2

100.49

1.0L

AC54011575

21

100.89

101..94

101.5

6.06

AC54611575

103.08

101.36

101,.44

5.09

98.97

1.01

9.63

L02.55

1.01

6.37
4.25
8.39

AC80r.09750

96.81

100.25

AC80911215

100.09

103.34

ACS1811230

99.21

98.39

98.35

AC81816230

1_00

100,95

99.37

1,02

AC82313230

102.85

rcl.7

101.75

1.86

AC83411"440

105.41

L01".49

100.93

1.0L

4.46

AC84011220

106.84

106.99

107,07

3,95
4.54
4.81

acbqztzzzo

99.46

100.74

100.L7

1.0L

AF609086s0

tos.+1"

103.84

1,03.27

1.01

AF60908700

101.86

102.38

\02.41.

1.64

AF6091_2650

L07.37

108.04

108.04

3.04

AF60914700

10

100.26

100.1_3

100.15

1_

3.81
8.11
6.L1.

AF60916700

98.93

TO2,LL

101.09

1.01

AF60918800

10L;38

100,59

99.s6

1.01

AH45414400

98.63

99.97

99.97

s.18

A162608450

102.3

L04.48

103.89

1.0L

8.01

A162610500

l-6

97.74

99.46

98.23

1".01

6.15

5.34
3,69

AM32711280

93.87

95.99

96.8

0.99

AM34426280

93.55

90.74

90.46

AM57623270

770.77

111.82

!7L.34

5.1

AP32716860

98.04

96.2L

96.11

1_

3.66

AP32718850

98.22

97.12

96.15

1,01

5.39
6.84

AP32718900

93.24

97.9L

97.73

AP78314230

94.55

95.59

95.21

4.66

AR33009250

103.13

101.95

101.39

1.0L

4,79

AR46009400

99.67

100.27

100.46

5.79

AR46014260

98.98

99.13

99.4:1.

\.94

AR46014400

97.57

97.98

98.19

5.16

AR46015320

101.06

103.03

101".76

1.01

6.62

4.43

AR46021320

104.s4

103.9L

L03.7

AR46024355

91.3

103.sr.

tot.4

7.O2

6.81

AS38008375

101.35

100.51

100,58

1.

5.6

AS38010375

98.39

98.47

98,07

5.69

4T2130837s

1,1

98.78

99.58

98.68

1,01

5.33

AT21313350

98.43

96.46

95,8

1.01

3.84

AW1450932s

17

104.99

103.78

103.36

5.14

AW14509350

24

100.46

101.08

100.93

s.12

AW14510400

100.61

99.87

99.41

3.92

8A492L4400

95.58

95.27

9s.26

3.02

8106909225

96.17

fio.4

99.48

1.01

9.0s

8113017525

102.29

14237

142.6t

3.94

BR57607385

taz.t2

103.77

103.67

6.58

8S5592242s

102.94

1.04.07

104.15

6.73

BS68832215

99.79

105.8

103.12

1.03

7.81"

8581,407425

1.1

97.67

1.02.07

141..43

1.01

6.53

8S98709425

92.51.

94.64

94.!

L.OL

3.84

8T2302732s

96.58

96.74

96.47

3.83

8V13817600

OOl1O

100.37

99.67

1.01

5.4

8W41818300

95.06

96.46

95.91

1.01

5,4

8W41820300

98.63

96.9

c464200220

103.27

1.O4.12

cA642LO2A0

96.82

4.44

L02.96

1.01

8.57

LOs.24

5.16

4.07

105.69

105.58

cc23112230

1o1.64

100,77

100.9

cc23L1.4270

96.9

99.5

98.87

cc74109200

101.99

101.8

cc74206350

98.69

98.16

1,01

8.55

101..24

1.01

6.31

97.78

1.0L

6.66

cc76206220
cM39507550

10

103.29

10s.92

1.05.22

1.01

8.28

39

105.69

104.47

103.43

1.01

7.85

cM42510200

L3

105.88

100.99

101.06

1_

8.08

cM851091s0

97.24

100.83

100.29

r_.01

8.44

cM89509330

95.9

94.66

94.09

1.01

3.18

cN42508280

12

96.25

97.31

97.07

4.87

cN42512255

r08.97

105.3

104.5

1.01

cN42514300

96.s

100.07

98.7L

1.01

8.04

cP60506270

99.6

101.81

101. L3

1.01

4.6t

cP86308275

103.92

106.09

10s.88

5.98

cP8630832s

104.39

104.3

103.29

1.01

4.98

cP86372245

104.98

106.1

105.7s

8.37

cs13706550

92.67

91.09

91.09

4.61

cs13707s50
cs13807600
cs16208200

1"6

99.81

100.21

99.04

1,01

5.89

29

99.79

1.02.4

tot.72

1,01

6.7

704.78

704.87

104.16

1,

s.65

cs36308200

96.41

98.88

98.4

6.46

cs50211155

98.18

96.98

96.72

4.23

cs81610200
cs91215260

18

99.94

102.65

L02.29

6.84

100.24

98.86

98.52

4.86

1,02

10.81

1.

4.39

cT1160916s

98.78

104.69

102.83

cr17208200

102.46

102.2

102.31"

cr52710190

103.94

103.83

104.01

5.76

DA46208460

94.67

93.3

91.61

L.02

5.78

DA52008220

102.08

102.99

99.6s

1.03

71.6L

DF60700000

90.65

96,49

95.12

L.01

11.69

DGs6908210

103.29

L05.38

L05.01

1.01

9.47

DG68608220

15

99.34

100,15

100.1

6.26

DH45308220

99.64

99.06

98,74

3.31

D144708180

97.33

97.18

96,s7

L.01

3.88

D168110225

94.5

98.91

98,12

1.01

6.56

DM79408220

103.26

L01.87

r.01.04

1.0L

5.96

EA67007300

101..97

102.6

L02.49

2.09

EC51810250

10L.04

LOO.97

101".17

5.9

ECs1812290

108.33

L04.03

103.02

1.01

5.37

EC51815260

13

tot.77

101".14

100.91

6.09

EE}4907250

10

98.2

99.68

99.94

6,57

8E05410220

96.3

99.85

99.2

1.0L

1.68

EE05413230

105.11

105,83

105.52

6.24

EH80105360

100.6

L01.68

99.04

1.03

12.55

14

L00.67

98.36

98

3,89

Et25607300

100.22

100.78

100.42

5.57

Et25611250

98.2

99.38

98.88

1.01_

5.12

Et25806300

rcA.5

L02.13

102.35

3.59

100.56

L00.59

100.L4

1.01-

3.5
8.35

EH80s05550

E147806300

EM40308500

1L

94.46

98.89

98.L4

1.01

EM77107270

98.L7

100.18

99.85

5.41"

EP13314185

103.21

L04.66

103.91

1.0L

9.62

EP48110200

98.81

L02.37

101.06

1.0L

8.16

EP6s410225

L4

105.96

L04.67

fi3.97

1.01

4.76

EP91s05360

tot.71

101.1

100.81

4.L8

E5127712t0

98.58

99

99.08

1..63

E523t12200

111.06

L1L.46

L09

L.O2

9.24

E52371"1190

101.86

100,16

99.84

5.78

ES54106480

L10.05

110.81

109.68

1.01

5.43

ES81206620

L01.35

103.43

99.74

1.04

13.1"1

ES81207355

700.94

toL.74

10!.44

2.63

ES81208480

103.05

109,27

L08.72

7.35

ES81209330

96.76

99.83

99.4

7.9

ET28705360

101

105.18

105.63

8.13

ET28706300

13

103.29

101.88

101.98

6.s9

ET28706360

1"1"

1.01.7

101.59

100.56

1.0L

6.75

98.26

1.01

6.94

105.34

8.65

'

27

100

98.99

103.81

105,27

ET28707500

38

100.63

LOZ.O7

100.92

1.01

8.98

ET28707540
ET28708460

57

r.01.13

1.0L,37

101.08

4.73

701.92

100.37

102.17

0.98

6.42

ET28708480

10

108.27

L09.29

108.85

7.38

ET28709440

t4

99.99

L02.17

101.01

1.01

6.22

0.99

8.54

9.3

ET28706560

ET28707300

ET28709450

100.7

99.54

100.16

ET28710580

10

96.98

98.9

98.88

ET28710700

97.29

99.51

99.26

t_

4.1_6

ET2871.4450

90.4

94.46

93.29

1.01_

8.87

EI28715450

104.22

1o2.47

101.81

1,01

4,99

ET28716430

115

LL2.L6

109.98

1.02

10.98

ET82006460

102.89

104.64

104.55

4.68

ET82306460

96.49

91.02

96.93

l_

1_.29

EV63907600

L2

97.94

LOt.26

101.16

5.64

EV65s06275

10

101.87

100.1

99.7

5.55

EV83211190

93.41

98.29

96.89

1_.01

7.59

EV89309230

702.43

106.06

105.38

L,01

7.86

EV89310220

98.84

99.69

99.85

3.55

EV89311240

100

102.33

rcl.23

1.01

5.62

EV89316260

94.32

93.84

93.28

1.01

3,43

EV89707280

.-7

103.61

100.04

100.25

4,85

EV89708280

104.99

104.66

104.36

3,85

97.65

97.13

1_.01

5.24

EV89708290

T1

97.66

EV89712350

101.96

104

104.83

0.99

6.43

EV89713330

101.62

99.04

98.85

6,9s

EV8971,4320

105.8

107.85

fi1.49

6.01

EV89717335

I00.17

99.8

99.98

5.07

EVg2706300

L9

100.94

102.18

103..97

5.65

EV92707270

L3

97.69

L00.2

99.95

7.78

FH01210150

99.74

toL.78

103.39

0.98

5.72

FH54007280

99.8s

98.96

99.35

6.61

FP65602410

1,10.72

107.5

106.93

L.01

4.16

FR24616400

107.5

106.2

105.85

3.18

FR24624400

103.57

102.79

102.91

5.36

FR25204305

100.03

103.38

103.13

4.91_

FV89301260

15

98.66

LOz.04

101.25

L,01

8.08

FV89307280

102.66

!02.1

t01,.42

1,01

7.19

FV8930728s

102.85

101.65

101.,82

4.82

FV89308225

96.82

1.O0.42

99.94

5.62

FV89308330

106.54

106.35

105.44

1.01

4.47

105.11

108.03

108.41

6.86

106.87

103.4

102.66

L.01

4.4

FV89310300

FV8931!275

FV89311310

104.39

105.75

104.73

1.01-

6.38

GL19710425

101.96

104

103.5

s.85

HC10217260

102.63

102.5

101.59

1.01

8.43

NS54307400

100.32

100.86

100.59

7.77

NVO9906275

L1"

99.72

100.6

L00,27

PE07707450

92.27

94.4

94.57

t
t
t

PE74217400

91.54

93.25

92,39

L.01

4.44

PE74821500

98.58

98.81

98,8

/oo

PPs8508430

99.47

102.59

102.1

t
t

PT20147510

107.24

L07.77

107.1

L.0L

5.83

RD41709400

96.49

100.73

100

1.01

7.56

RD4s709430

111.35

109.99

107.31

L.O2

10.63

RE07609340

L0

701..97

t02.34

702.32

1_

7.1.1.

RH77108350

1_9

105.42

IO3.24

!02.66

1-.01

5.62

RH78211230

103.99

106.31

L05.97

4.35

6.s9
6.97

6.44

RH78816165

t02.3

99.61

99.3

RH78816210

103.86

104.95

RH79111180
RR22009280

8.5

L04.67

11.33
7.98
8.44

L12.73

L48.76

107.6

1.01

L5

99.77

99,77

98.91

1.01

NEIGHBORHOODS

for

Neighborhood

Neighborhood

wEsti,

EiIST

4C3401338s

EC57872290

AC34013550

EE05413230

AC34014300

EP13314185

AC8.40L1220

EP55410225

AF60908650

ES23112200

AF60912550

ES54106480

A162608450

ES81208480

4M3271L280
AM34426280
AM576232L0

ETz8705360

AP32716860
AP32718850

Er287L4450

AP78314230

ET82006460

AR46021320
4T21313350

ET82306460

AW14509325

EV89309230

8T28707300
ETz8708480
ET287L643A

EV83211190
EV89316260

BA492t4l,00

EV89708280

8R57607385

EV89712350
EV89714320

BS55922425

8S68832215
859870942s

FH01210150

8T23027325

FP55502410

8W41818300

FR245L6400
FR2520430s

8W41820300

FV89308330

cA64270200
cc76206220
cM39507550
cM89509330

FV89310300
FV8931131_0

G1L977042s

cN42512255
cP86308275

PEO770745A

cP8630832s
cP863L2245

PE742L7400
PT20107510

cs137065s0
cs15208200

RD45709430
RH78217230

cs50211155
cTs2710190
DA46208460
DF60700000
DGs6908210
D144708180

RH78816210
RH79111180

REINSPECTION

APPE,NDIX C

ORGANIZATIOITI CHART and

CALENIDAR of EVENTS

\E

t3

t;
IE

r9
l(^
t.E

IE
IE
/'E

J
tJ

=u

;<U

trt

_ho

CALENDAR Of EVENTS

ACTIVITYOR EVENT

MONTH

TARGET DEPT
ACCT

provides budget request forms for next fiscal year budget

CFO

Auditor presents results of financial audit to Board

Prepare, disburse, submit tax statements to employees and IRS

FEB

ACCT

Departments submit budget requests

MARCH

ACCi

Executives prepare budget

MARCH

ACCT

iubmit prelirninary budget to Board and taxing entities

MARCH

ACCT

Jodate accountins software and records and verifies

IUNE

ACCT

Budget workshops and notification of public hearing for budget

\PR

ACCT

Public hearing, final budget review and adoption

IUNE

ACCT

Perform phvsical inventory of assets and reconciles with records

\UG

ACCT

trepare for financial audit

\OV

ACCT

10

leeins fiscal vear

L0

Managers discuss goals and objectives for budget

DEC

ACCT

TL

Financial field audit

DEC

ACCT

Publish press releases for renditions, exemption applications and special valuations, ag

Review/revise enclosures for notices of value

MARCH

ADMIN

Review/revise enclosures for appointment letters

MARCH

ADMIN

:reate Annual Report

ADMIN

Review online protest systems for revisions, improvements

ADMIN

Mail Notices of Appraised Value to homesteaded residential properties

IUNE

ADMIN

Mail Notices of Appraised Value to all remaining properties

IUNE

ADMIN

3egin collecting customer service reports and recording statistics

IULY

ADMIN

jchedule and revise forms and procedures to comply with new legislation

Schedule training for.ARB hearings

;ubmit Operations Survey to Comptroller's Office

ADMIN

iubmit aooraisal roll for ARB anproval

ADMIN

Certifv the appraisal roll to taxing units by July 25th

ADMIN

qccT

ACCT

ADMIN

ADMIN
ADMIN

with new legislation

Prepare Mass Appraisal Report

ADMIN

lt
t!

Review and update all forms and letters in PACS for revisions, dates, signatures, contact numbers

ADMIN

Check state forms for revisions and replace/add to intranet folders

ADMIN

12

Review. revise annual oress releases

ADMIN

t2

Review district's website for additions/deletions

ADMIN

Monitor progress

fualitv control

Mail balance of annual exemption, rendition, ag application and

Work plan development

leein emolovee evaluations of all district staff

12

Begin mailing

DEC

ALL

DEC

CLL

otherform mailings

CLL
DEC

SLL

\LL
\LL

nnual forms, renditions, exemption applications

leview department manuals and revise and publish as needed

)ocumentation gathering

DEC

\PPR

legin processing renditions

MAY

\PPR/PP

Mail and orocess freeoort exemotion a0plications

MAY

\PPR/PP

3egin processing special inventory reports

DEC

\PPR/PP

\PPR

CALENDAR of EVENTS

MONTH

TARGET DEPT

ACTIVITY OR EVENT

Mail and process data forms for warehouse Iistings, taxis and airplane hangars

Sales

Flag accounts not ready

Begin processing requests for rendition extensions

file development
for Notice of Appraised Value

MAY

\PPR/PP

DEC

\PPR/R

MARCH

\PPR

MAY

\PPR/PP

Review/imolement residential neiehborhood market adiustments

MARCH

\PPR/S

Revise aooroved aooraisal model soecification where needed

JAN

\PPR/S

Gather evidence for defense of values

APRIL

\PPR/S

Deadline to submit Propertv Value Study Appeals Evidence

\PPR/R

Analyze values for final value edits

\PPR/S

Defend values in informal & formal hearings

AUG

\PPR

Work with contract aoDraisers on values and defense of values

JUNE

\PPR/PP

AUG

\PPR/S

Track protest trends

Begin training

Begin field work

Run sales ratio studies

Review deprecition guidelines

stafffor data collection, field work

\PPR
A

for building permits, new construction, rechecks

to determine focus of field work for coming tax year

DDD

\PPR
IAN

\PPR

Field work, data collection begins for all appraisal departments for coming calendar year values

MARCH

\PPR

Begin collecting data for model specifications for cos! market & income approach fo r 2015

MARCH

\PPR

Begin reinspection of properties in residential and commercial using orthophotography

FEB

\PPR

Establish department work plans for improvements and land

Commercial department begins data collection, cost, sales, income data for model calibration

SEPT

\PPR/C

Field review of new subdivisions

MARCH

\PPR/R

va lues

\PPR

Manasers review results of ratio studies & identify areas for 2015 value review

\PPR/R

Statutorv AoDraisal Date for 23.12 properties

\PPR/R

Appraisal for certain inventory properties under 23,12

DEC

\PPR/R

Besin statistical analvsis in aooraisal deDartments

MARCH

\PPR/S

Review Property Value Study from Comptroller's office

APR

\PPR/S

input

sales and income data

ULY

\PPR/S

Gather, analvze &

Review valuation models

Verifv sales

FEB

\PPR/R

Begin work on clerical errors report

DEC

\PPR/R

10

Review ratio studies and neighborhood delineations

APPR/R

11

Complete Comptroller's Clerical Errors Report

\PPR/R

12

Create, adjust and test models

Process

Appointment of Agents additions, updates

\PPR

APRIL

\PPR/S

DEC

\RB
ARB

Verifv scanned imases

DEC

Prepapre & submit list of ARB members & CAD staff for ARB training

APRIL

ARB

Schedule ARB trainine with ARB attorney

APRIL

\RB

Schedule meetins between ARB officers and local tax agents

MARCH

\RB

Setup, schedule ARB quorum meeting to adopt ARB rules

\RB

Review, order hearing appointment letter inserts

ARB

Review, order board order inserts

\RB

Process, mail Notices of Appraised Value to tax agents

\RB

Begin informal hearings

\RB

Make ARB hearings available for walk-ins

\RB

CALENDAR Of EVENTS

ACTIVIW OR EVENT

MONTH

TARGET DEPT

)ost asenda notifvine public of dates ofARB session to conduct hearings

DEC

ARB

leceive, process, schedule protests

\UG

ARB

)rocess chanses for 41,10 aad 4L,1L motions

\UG

ARB

Sesin ARB hearinss

\RB approves appraisal records for tax year

ichedule motions under Section 25.25 to ARB

ieceive, process motions to orrect roll

lomolete timelv ARB hearings

Begin processing exemption applications

ARB

Maintain single family residence ownership records

Coordinate mailine

y'erify exemption eligibility of veterans organizations

Validate, update veterans' disability exemptions

ULY

ARB
ARB

VIARCH

\RB
\RB

D&E
)EC

D&E

FEB

D&E

D&E

of exemption applications
EB

D&E

)ispose of prior year scanned source documents

:EB

D&E

Mail reminder letters to veterans failing to respond to request for information

qPRIL

D&E

Process undeliverable mail coming from Notices of Appraised Value

;EPT

D&E

)ispose of prior vears records that have met retention schedules

;EPT

)&E

;EPT

D&E

IULY

D&E

from

returned mail as Undeliverable

3hange addresses of sngle family residences resulting

Remove exemotions from sinele famitv residences from undeliverable mail/mismatched addresses

10

Provide customer supoort when tax bills are mailed

:ustomer service training

\PRIL

IR

3pen enrollment for emplovee benefits

;EPT

IR

tl

Employee evaluations

!ov

IR

L2

Enrollment emplovees into Vision paln

D&E

{R

)EC

T/Os

Provide support as needed for completing Open Records and Evidence Requests

t
t

Mailing Address/Ownership Database Edits

Run Homestead Applications Forms

rrlos
r/os
rrlos

\ddressScrub

Run

4x vear

Run Mobile Home and Business Personal Property Rendtions

rr/os

Run mobile home park manager listing

Run requests and reminders for VA exemption

{ssist in orocessins returned mail

lun database edits to preDare for Notices ofAppraised Value

\ddress Scrub

Run 4 x vear

rrlos
rrlos
rrlos
rrlos
rrlos

leviewflaeeed accounts and release of flags

ITlOS

lonfirm new or deleted entities and exemptions

rTlos

fest run notices in coordination with contract mailer

lrlos

leview, update and monitor online protests for functionality and cornpliance

loordinate with departments on taxpaVer evidence processes

JULY

\ssist processing renditions received by mail

MAY

lun preliminary totals for taxing entities

)reoare and run certified appraisal rolls

rrlos

leview. setuo suoolemental sub-svstem for current vear's suoolements

lTlos

IVIARCH

AN

ULY

trlos
rrlos
rrlos
rTlos

CALENDAR of EVENTS

MONTH

ACTIVITY OR EVENT

TARGET DEPT

Begin preparation for bill file creation, supplements and submission

lreate new vear laver in

Run state reports

lun address scrub to prepare for bill file

T/OS

lreate bill file

r/os

Monitor, provide support in processing supplements as prior years

12

Review and update district's intranet for additions/deletions

PACS svstem

SEPT

T/OS

r/os

for aooraisal work for cornine vear

NOV

4,PRIL

TlOS

T/OS

r/os

12

Review & coordinate with departments for updates for January mailings

IAN

T/OS

Hardware and software modifications

JAN

riosls

GIS

SEPT

VIAP

Shredding inventory preparation

MARCH

VIAP

Subdivisions & deeds for future layer

A.PRIL

VIAP

GEO lDs, topology & special boundaries reviewed

GEO lDs, topology & special boundaries reviewed

map maintenaRce (NewsSubdivision maps & inventory)

GIS SDE

GIS

Sh

VIAP
VlAP

replication update to entities

trainine

redding inventory preparation

AUG

VlAP

DEC

MAP

OCT

MAP

9,

GEO lDs, topologv & special boundaries reviewed

LL

GIS hardware and software modification

12

GEo lDs, topologv & special boundaries reviewed

MAP

MAP audit onsite review besins

\DMIN

leein trackine new lesislation

ADMIN

Begin review of procedures revised or created in 2012

VlAP
DEC

VlAP

2015
1

\DMIN

Dead line

Address anv MAP audit recommendations

Review new legislation for changes effective immediately

Publish new legislation recap for managers

ADMIN

Publish results of legislative session and changes required for compliance

ADMIN

Revise procedures affected bv lesislation effective immediately

ADMIN

3omolete revision of procedures affected bv lesislation effective 9/1

q.DMIN

3omplete revision of procedures affected by legislation effective L/L

ADMIN

to

su

bmit Property

Value Study Ap pea ls Evidence

tor 2ot4

ADMIN
ADMIN
MAY

ADMIN

q,DMIN

2076

Begin review of procedures revised or created in 2013

ADMIN

Besin reviedrevision of Reappraisal Plan tor 2077-2018

A.DMIN

Complete Reappraisal Plan and submit for Chief Appraiser's approval

ADMIN

Besin oreparation for M,AP audit

ADMIN

Boa

rd of Directors review/revise/a pprove

Rea

ppraisal

Pla n

CDMIN

APPEI\TDIXD

201.4

201,5

BUDGET

Document 3B
2015 - 2016
CAD PIan for Periodic Reappraisal of lndustrial Personal Property
Subsections (a) and (b), Section 25.18, Tax Code:
(a)

CAD shall implement the plan for periodic reappraisal of

property approved by the board of directors under Section 6.05 (i).

(b)

The plan provides for annual reappraisal of all industrial personal property
appraised by the CAD. The CAD has a professional services contract wiih
Capitol Appraisal Group, LLC (CAGL) to appraise these properties for the CAD.
(1)

ldentifyinq properties to be appraised: Appraisal of propertles is limited

to those indicated in the contract with the appraisal district, unless
additionally requested by the appraisal district. Newly discovered
properiies will be discussed with the appraisal district to confirm they
are to be appraised by Capitol Appraisal. Through inspection the
appraiser identifies personal property to be appraised. The appraiser
begins with properties from the previous tax year and identifies new
properties from visual identification and/or publications, newspaper
articles, or information obtained through the interview of property
owners. The appraiser may also refer to other documents, both public
and also confidential, to assist in identification of these properlies.
Such documents might include but are not limited to the previous
year's appraisal roll, vehicle listing services and private directories.

(2)

Identifvinq and updating relevant characteristics of each property

in the appraisal records: Data identifying and updating relevant
characteristics of the subject properties are collected as part of the
inspection process through directories and listing services as well as
through later submissions by the property owner, sometimes including
confidential rendition. These data are verified through previously
existing records and through public reports.

(3)

Defining market areas in the district: Market areas for industrial

personal property are generally either regional or national in scope.
Published price sources are used to help define market areas.

(4)

(5)

Developinq an appraisal approach that reflects the relationship among

property characteristics affecting value and determines the contribution
of individual propertv characteristics. Personal property is appraised
using replacemenUreproduction cost new less depreciation models.
Income approach models are used when economic and/or subject
pr'operty income is available, and a market data model is used when
appropriate market sales information is a available.
Comparison and Review: The appraiser reconciles multiple models by
individual
model that besi addresses
characteristics of the subject property. Year-to year property value
changes for the subjeci property are examined using computer-

considering

the

the

assisted staiistical review. Periodic reassignment of propefties among

more experienced
appraisers or the review of appraisals by
appraiser also contributes to the review process.

Document 3A
2015 - 2016
CAD PIan for Periodic Reappraisal of lndustrial Real Property
Subsections (a) and (b), Section 25.18, Tax Code:

(a)

CAD shall implement the plan for periodic reappraisal of

property approved by the board of directors under Section 6.05 (i).

(b)

The plan provides for annual reappraisal of selected industrial property appraised
by the CAD. The CAD has a professional services contract with Capitol
Appraisal Group, LLC (CAGL) to appraise these properties for the CAD.

(1)

Identifvinq properties to be appraised: Appraisalof propefties is limited

to those indicated in the contract with the appraisal district, unless

additionally requested by the appraisal diskict. Newly discovered
properties will be discussed with the appraisal district to confirm they
are to be appraised by Capitol Appraisal. lndustrial properties are
identified as part of the appraiser's physical inspection process each
year and through submitted data by the property owner. The appraiser
may also refer to legal documents, photography and other descriptive
iiems.

(2)

ldentifving and updatinq relevant characieristics of each properV

in the appraisal records: The appraiser identifies and updates relevant
characterisiics through the inspection process. Confidential rendition,
assets lists and other confidential data also provide additional
information. Subject property data is verified through previously
existing records and through published reports.

(3)

Defininq market areas in the district: Market areas for industrial

properties tend to be regional, national and sometimes international.
Published information such as prices, financial analysis and investor
services reports are used to help define market area.

(4)

Developino an appraisal approach that reflects the relationship among

property characteristics affecting value and determines the contribution
of individual properli characteristics: Among the three approaches to
value (cost, income and rnarket), industrial properties are most
commonly appraised using replacemenUreproduction cost new less

depreciation models because of readily available cost information. lf

sufficient income or market data are available, those appraisal models
may also be used.
(5)

Comparison and Review: The appraiser considers results that best

address the individual characteristics of the subject property and that
are based on the most reliable data when multiple models are used.
Year-to year property value changes for the subject property are

examined using computer-assisted statistical review. Periodic

reassignment of properties among appraisers or the review of
appraisals by a more experienced appraiser also contributes to the
review process.

Document 3D
2015 -2016
CAD Plan for Periodic ReapPraisal

of Oil and Gas ProPertY

ln accordance with Section 25.18 of the Tax Code:
(a)

CAD shall implernent the plan for periodic reappraisal of

property as approved by the board of directors under Section 6'05 (i),

(b)

The plan provides for annual reappraisal of all oil and gas property appraised by
the CAD. The CAD has a professional services contract with Capitol Appraisal
Group, LLC (CAGL) to appraise these properties for the CAD.
(1)

ldentification of new properV and its situs. As subsurface mineral

properties lie within ihe earth, they cannot be physically identified by
inspection like other real property. However, the inability to directly
inspect does not appreciably affect the ability to identify and appraise
these properties. To identify new properties, CAGL obtains monthly oil
and gas lease information from the Railroad Commission of Texas
[RRC] to compare against oil and gas properties already identified.
The situs of new properties is determined using plats and W-2lG-1
records from the RRC, as well as CAGL's in-house map resources,

(2)

ldeniifyino and updatinq relevant characteristics of all oil and qas

properties to be appraised. Relevant characteristics necessary to
estimate value of rernaining oil or gas reserves are production volume
and pattern, product prices, expenses borne by the operator of the
property, and the rate at which the anticipaied future income should be
discounted to incorporate future risk. CAGL obtains information to
update these characteristics annually from regulatory agencies such as

the RRC, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, submissions from

property owners and operators, as well as from published investment
reports, licensed data services, service for fee organizations and
through comparable properties, when available.
(3)

in

Defining market areas

the district and identifyinq property
characteristics that affect propertv value in each market area. Oil and
gas markets are regional, national and international. Therefore they
respond

to

market forces beyond defined market boundaries as

observed among more typical real properties.

(4)

Developing an appraisal approach that best reflects the relationship

amonq propertv characteristics affecting value and best determines the
contribution of individual propertv characteristics. Among the three
approaches to value (cost, income and market), the income approach
to value is most commonly used in the oil and gas industry. Through
use of the discounted cash flow technique in particular, the appraiser is
able to bring iogether relevant characteristics of production volume and

pattern, product prices, operating expenses and discount rate to

determine an estimate of appraised value of an oil or gas propefty.

(5)

Comparison and Review. Use of the incorne approach is the first step
in.determining an estirnate of market value. After that the appraiser
reviews the estimated rnarket value compared to its previous certified
value and also compares it to industry expected payouts and income
indicators. The appraiser examines the model's value with its previous
yeafs actual income, expecting value to typically vary within in a range
of 2-5 times actual annual income, provided all appropriate income
factors have been correctly identified. Finally, periodic reassignment of
properties arnong appraisers and review of appraisals by a more
experienced appraiser further expand the review process.

Document 3C
2015 - 2016

CAD PIan for Periodic Reappraisal of

Utility, Railroad and Pipeline Property

Subsections (a) and (b), Section 25.18, Tax Code:

(a)

CAD shall implement the plan for periodic reappraisal of

property approved by the board of directors under Section 6.05 (i).

(b)

The plan provides for annual reappraisal of all utility, railroad and pipeline
property appraised by the CAD. The CAD has a professional services contract
with Capitol Appraisal Group, LLC (CAGL) to appraise these properties for the
CAD.

(1)

ldentifving properties to be aporaised: Appraisal of properties is limited

to those indicated in the contraci with the appraisal district, unless
additionally requested by the appraisal district. Newly discovered
properties will be discussed with the appraisal district to confirm they
are to be appraised by CapitolAppraisal. Utility, railroad and pipeline

that are susceptible to inspection are identified by

inspection. The appraiser may also refer to other documents, both
public and also confidential to assist in identification of these
properties. Due io the varied nature of utility, railroad, and pipeline
propedies there is no standard data collection form or manual. New
permitting documents on record with the Railroad Commission of
Texas provide a source to identify potential new pipeline projects but
does not provide indication if the project was actually started,
properties

completed, or a distinct location of the proposed project. Every effort is

made to discover new utility, railroad, and pipeline properties through
personal observation combined with permitting documents.

(2)

ldentifvinq and updatinq relevant characteristics of each properq/

in the appraisal records: The appraiser identifies and updates relevant
inspection
characteristics through data collected as part of
process and through later submissions by the property owner,
sometimes including confidential rendition. Additional data are
obtained through public sources, regulatory reports and through
analysis of comparable properties.

the

(3)

Defininq market areas in the district: Market areas for utility, railroad
and pipeline property tend to be regional or national in scope.
Financial analyst and investor services reporis are used to help define
market areas.

(4)

Developing an appraisal approach that reflects the relationship amonq

property characteristics affectinq value and determines the contribution
of individual properW characteristics: For all three types of property,

the appraiser must first form an opinion of highest and best use.
Among the three approaches to value (cost, income and market),

pipeline value is calculated using a replacemenUreproduction cost new

less depreciation model [RCNLD]. ln addition to the RCNLD indicator,
a unit value model may also be used if appropriate data are available.
Utility and railroad properiy are appraised in a manner similar to
pipeline except that the RCNLD model is not used.

(5)

Comoarison and Review: The appraiser considers results that best

address the individual characteristics of the subject property when
multiple models are used. Yearto year property value changes for the
subject property are examined using computer-assisted statistical
review. Periodic reassignment of properties arnong appraisers or the
review of appraisals by a more experienced appraiser also contributes
to the review process. These types of property are also subject to
review by the Property Tax Division of the Texas Comptrolle/s Office
through their annual Property Value Study.

Document

Value Defense Procedures for

lnformal Meetings and Formal Hearings
lndustrial Real PropertY
lnformal hearings are conducted by phone, mail, or in person by CapitolAppraisal Group
appraisers. Appraisers may present sales data or data specific to the property in defense
of our values. tncome, expense and capitatization data are reviewed and presented if
available. lf the taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute fudher, the appraiser guides them
through the initial phase of the formal protest procedures.
When taxpayers are scheduled for formal hearings they receive an ARB procedures pamphlet
and a copy of Taxpayer's Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities published by the State
Comptroller's Office. lf protest hearing evidence is requested, the appraisal district has 14 days
prior to the protest hearing to respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties
regarding value disputes. Any income and expense information derived from the market is
accumulated and developed into charts containing general data. No confidential incorne,
expense or other inforrnation received from taxpayers on specific accounts will be released.
Equity evidence is generated by Capitol using programs and tools it has developed to compare

other properties to the subject property, Applicable appraisal reports and research data
applicable to the property are also included in this packet.

Utilities
lnformal hearings are conducted by phone, mail, or in person by Gapitol Appraisal Group
appraisers. Appraisers may present sales data or data specific to the property in defense
of our values. lncome, expense and unit appraisal data (when applicable) are reviewed
and presented if available. lf the taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute further, the
appraiser guides them through the initial phase of the forma! protest procedures.
When taxpayers are scheduled for formal hearings they receive an ARB procedures pamphlet
and a copy of Taxpayer's Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities published by the State
Comptroller's Office. lf protest hearing evidence is requested, the appraisal district has 14 days
prior to the protest hearing to respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties
regarding value disputes. No confidential income, expense or other information received from
taxpayers on specific accounts will be released. Equity evidence is generated by Capitol using
programs and tools it has developed to compare other properties to the subject property.
Applicable appraisal reports and research data applicable to the property are also included in this
packet.

Oil and Gas Property

lnformal hearings are conducted by phone, mail, or in person by Capitot Appraisal Gr.oup
appraisers. Mineral operators and third party agents with the proper fiduciary in place
may also view the parameters used in the appraisal of their oil and gas propedies on

Gapitol'swebsiteat@'othertaxpayerswithaninterestinaminerallease

may request a copy of their appraisals at the same web site. Appraisers may present
recent production data and sales prices to compare with the actual income received by the
taxpayer in defense of our values. lncome, expense and capital expense data are reviewed
and presented if available. lf the taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute further, the
appraiser guides them through the initial phase of the formal protest procedures.

When taxpayers are scheduled for formal hearings they receive an ARB procedures pamphlet
and a copy of Taxpayefs Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities published by the State
Comptroller's Office. Since oil and gas leases have multiple owners, all owners who pursue a
formal protest on the same property will be scheduled at the same time for a hearing. lf protest
hearing evidence is requested, the appraisaldistrici has 14 days priorto the protest hearing to
respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties regarding value disputes. No
confidential income, expense or other information received from iaxpayers on specific accounts
will be released. Capitol uses its MINARB procedure to generate copies of ihe appraisal reports
and product pricing data for the current and prior tax years. These reports are also included in
this packet.

lndustrial Personal Property

Informal hearings are conducted by phone, mail, or in person by Gapitol Appraisal Group
appraisers. Appraisers may present general data specific to the property in defense of our
values. Renditions other than that of the subject property will not be released. lf the
taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute further, the appraiser guides them through the initial
phase of the formal protest procedures.
When taxpayers are scheduled for forrnal hearings they receive an ARB procedures pamphlet
and a copy of Taxpayer's Nghts, Remedies; and Responsibilities published by the State
Comptroller's Office. lf protest hearing evidence is requested, the appraisal district has 14 days
prior to the protest hearing to respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties
regarding value disputes. Capitol provides copies of appraisal reports generated by its lndustrial

Personal Properly System for inclusion in the packet. As previously stated, no confidential
renditions of competing properties will be provided as evidence.

Client Plan
ln the event that the client's value defense plan differs with the plan of Capitol Appraisal Group,
the client's plan will be followed and supersedes the provisions of the Capitol Appraisal plan.

Value Defense Procedures for

ARB Hearings
lndustrial Real PropertY
lf the taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute beyond informal proceedings, the appraiser guides him
through the initial phase of the formal protest procedures.

When taxpayers are scheduled for formal hearings they receive an ARB procedures pamphlet
and a copy of Taxpayer's Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities published by the State
Comptrolle/s Office. lf protest hearing evidence is requested, the appraisal district has 14 days
prior to the protest hearing to respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties
regarding value disputes. Any income and expense information derived from the market is
accumulated and developed into charts containing general data. No confidential income,
expense or other information received from taxpayers on specific accounts will be released.
Equity evidence is generated by Capitol using programs and tools it has developed to compare
other properties to the subject property. Applicable appraisal reports and research data
applicable to the property are also included in this packet.

Utilities
lf the taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute beyond informal proceedings, the appraiser guides him
through ihe initial phase of the formal protest procedures.

When taxpayers are scheduled for formal hearings they receive an ARB procedures pamphlet
and a copy of Taxpayer's Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities published by the State
Comptroller's Office. lf protest hearing evidence is requested, the appraisal district has 14 days
prior to the protest hearing to respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties
regarding value disputes. No confidential income, expense or other information received from
taxpayers on specific accounts will be released. Equity evidence is generated by Capitol using
programs and tools it has developed to compare other properties to the subject property.
Applicable appraisal reports and research data applicable to the property are also included in this
packet.

Oil and Gas Property

tf the taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute beyond informal proceedings, the appraiser guides him
through the initial phase of the formal protest procedures.

When taxpayers are scheduled for formal hearings they receive an ARB procedures pamphlet
and a copy of Taxpayer's Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities published by the State
Comptroller's Office. Since oil and gas leases have multiple owners, all owners who pursue a
formal protest on the same property will be scheduled at the same time for a hearing. If protest
hearing evidence is requested, the appraisal district has 14 days prior to the protest hearing to
respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties regarding value disputes. No
confidential income, expense or other information received from taxpayers on specific accounts
will be released. Capitol uses its MINARB procedure to generate copies of the appraisal reports
and product pric)ng data for the current and prior tax years. These reports are also included in
this packet.

lndustrial Personal Property

lf the taxpayer wishes to pursue a dispute beyond informal proceedings, the appraiser guides hirn
through the initial phase of the formal protest procedures.

When taxpayers are scheduled for formal hearings they receive an ARB procedures parnphlet
and a copy of Taxpayer's Rights, Remedies, and Responsibrltrbs published by the State
Comptroller's Office. lf protest hearing evidence is requested, the appraisat district has 14 days
prior to the protest hearing io respond with characteristics and values of comparable properties
regarding value disputes. Capitol provides copies of appraisal reports generated by its lndustrial
Personal Property System for inclusion in the packet, As previously stated, no confidential
renditions of competing properties witl be provided as evidence.

Client Plan
ln the event that the client's value defense plan differs with the plan of Capitol Appraisal Group,
the client's plan will be followed and supersedes the provisions of the Capitol Appraisal plan.

Capitol Appraisal Group, LLC

Formal and lnformal Procedures

It is the Capitol Appraisal policy to follow the formal and informal procedures as established by each
individual client. Those policies will supercede the below referenced general practices used by this
company if there is a conflict.
lnformal

lnformal meetings with agents or taxpayers/owners on utility properties occur either on the telephone
or in the offices of Capitol Appraisal if requested by the agent or owner. This procedure may also take
place upon filing of a protest and is useful to finalize issues such as allocations and ownership.
Formal Meetings
Formal rneetings with agents or taxpayers/owners take place at the physical location as directed by the
appraisal district. Discussions with the agents or taxpayer/owners may take place prior to the scheduled
meeting time with the Appraisal Review Board. A deadline for timely action is dictated by the appraisal
district. Prior to the deadline and in the absence of the agent or taxpayer/owner being physically
present there may be telephone conversations to discuss the protested lssues. Failure to resolve the
protested issue(s) and no representation by the agent or taxpayer/owner will result in the
recommendation to affirm the noticed value and "no shor,r/' the agent or taxpayer/owner.

Affidavits used for evidence are presented to the Appraisal Review Board
district.

as

scheduled by the appraisal

APPE,I{DIX

GLOSSARY

F'

AppraisalAccuracy: Closeness of an estimated (for example, measured or computed) value to

standard or accepted value of a particular quantity. Compare integrity, precision, validity.

Aerial Photograph:

photograph of

a part of the earth's

surface taken by an aircraft-supported

camera.

Agricultural

Properiy:

lmproved or unimproved land that is devoted to or available for the production of

crops and/or other agricultural products, livestock, and agricultural support buildings.

(2) By
(1) The ratio of the appraised value to an indicator of market value.
Appraisal Ratio:
extension, an estimated fractional relationship between the appraisals and market values of a
group of properties. See also level of appraisal.
Appraisal Ratio Study: A ratio study using independent expert appraisals as indicators of market value.
Appraisal to Sale Price Ratio: The ratio of the appraised value to the sale price (or adjusted sale price)
of a property; a simple indication of appraisdl accuracy.
Appraised Value:

The estimate of the value of a property before application of any fractional

assessment ratio, partial exemption, or other adjustments.

Array:

An ordered arrangement of data, such as a listing of sales ratios, in order of

magnitude, Assemblage-The assembling of adjacent parcels of Iand into a single unit. Compare
plottage. Assembly Value-The excess of the value of a large parcel of land formed from a
number of srnaller parcels over the sum of the values of the unassembled parcels.

('1) A value set on real estate and personal property by a government as a basis
Assessed Value:
for levying taxes. (2) The monetary amount for a property as officially entered on the assessment
roll for purposes of computing the tax levy. Assessed values differ from the assessor's estimate of
actual (market) value for three major reasons: fractional assessment ratios, partial exemptions,
and decisions by assessing officials to override market value. The process of gathering and
interpreting economic data to provide information that can be used by policymakers to -----

Special: A compulsory charge imposed by a government on the owners of a selected

group of properties to defray, in whole or in part, the cost of a specific improvement or service

Assessment,

that is presumed to be of general benefit to the public and of special benefit to the owners of such
properties. Synonyrnous with betterment tax. Note: Some authorities conceive of a special
assessment as a non-recurring charge, but such a concept is inapplicable to the charges made
for nuisance abatement, which are now commonly called special assessments.

Assessment

io Appraisal

Ratio: The ratio of the assessed value

of a property to an independent

appraisal.

Assessment

Equity:

The degree to which assessments bear a consistent relationship to market value.

Assessment

Level:

The common or overall ratio of assessed values to market values.

Appeals: Apublic body (otherthan a court) charged with the duty of hearing and deciding
appeals taken by taxpayers or tax districts on assessments established by public officers or
bodies other than the courts. Synonymous with Board of Tax Appeals. Note: The decisions of
such a board are subject to further review by the courts on matters of law, but its findings are
often made conclusive as to matters of fact.

Board of

.,

Building Cost Schedule: A table giving approximate reproduction costs per cubic foot, per
square foot of floor area, or per square foot of ground area for each of the standard buildings in
the building classification schedule. Note: The building cost schedule must be supplemented by
cost schedules for parts of a building, such as an oil heating system or air-conditioning system, to
take care of situations in which a building has specifications differing in some detail from those of
the standard building.

CadastralMap: A scale map displaying

property ownership boundaries and showing the

dimensions of each parcel with related information such as parcel identifier, survey lines, and
easements. Annotations on recent sales prices and land value are sometimes added.
The process of estimating the coefficients in a mass appraisal model.

Calibration:

Capitalization:
The phenomenon whereby one or more events of economic consequence
expected to happen in the future exert an economic effect on values, processes, and decisions in
the present. Specifically, the conversion of expected income and rate of return into an estimated
present value in the income approach to value. Property taxes, anticipated changes, and landrelated government services may also be capitalized. See also yield capitalization.

Rate:

Capitalization
Any rate used to convert an estimate of future income to an estimate of market
value; the ratio of net operating income to market value.

CentralTendency: (1) The

tendency of rnost kinds of data to cluster around some typical or central

value, such as the mean, median, or mode. (2) By extension, any or all such statistics. Some
kinds of data, however, such as the weights of cars and trucks, may cluster about two or more
value$, and in such circumstances, the meaning of central tendency becomes unclear. This may
happen in ratio studies when two or more classes of property are combined.

Central Tendency, Measure of: A single point in a range of observations around which the observations
tend to cluster. The three most commonly used measures of central tendency are the mean,
median, and mode.

Class:

A set of items defined by common characteristics. (1) ln property taxation,

property classes such as residential, agricultural, and industrial may be defined. (2) ln
assessment, building classification systems based on type of building design, quality of
construction, or structural type are cornmon. (3) In statistics, a predefined category into which
data may be put for further analysis. For example, raiios may be grouped into the following
classes: less than 0.500, .500 to 0.599, 0.600 to 0.699, and so forth.

(1) The act of segregating property into two or more classes for the application of
different effective tax rates by means of one or more special property taxes (see tax, special
property) or a classified property tax system. For a representative scheme, see property use
category. (2) ln a geographic information system, the process of assigning individual pixels of a

Classification:

multispectral image to categories, generally on the basis of spectral reflectance characteristics.

Coefficient of Dispersion (COD):The average deviation of a group of numbers from the

median expressed as

a percentage of the median. ln ratio studies, the average

percentage

deviation from the median ratio.

Coefficientof Variation (COV): A standard statistical measure of the relative dispersion of the sample
data about the mean of the data; the standard deviation expressed as a percentage of the mean.
Comparable Sales: Comparables: (1) Recently sold properties that are similar in important respects to a
property being appraised. The sale price and the physical, functional, and locational
characteristics of each of the properties are compared to those of the property being appraised in
order to arrive at an estimate of value. (2) By extension, the term "comparables" is sometimes
used to refer to properties with rent or income patterns comparable to those of a propedy being
appraised.
Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA): A system of appraising property, usually only certain types
of real property, that incorporates computer-supported statistical analyses such as multiple
regression analysis and adaptive estimation procedure to assist the appraiser in estimating value.

(1) One of the three approaches to value, the cost approach is based on the
principle of substitution-that a rational, informed purchaser would pay no more for a property
than the cost of building an acceptable substitute with like utility. The cost approach seeks to

Cost Approach:

determine the replacement cost new of an improvement less depreciation plus land value' (2)
The method of estimating the value of property by: (a) estimating the cost of construction based
on replacement or reproduction cost new or trended historic cost (often adjusted by a local
multiplier); (b) subtracting depreciation; and, (c) adding the estimated land value. The land
value is mostfrequently determined by the sales comparison approach
Charts, tables, factors, curves, equations, and the like intended to help estimate
Cost Schedules:
the cost of replacing a structure from a knowledge of some other factors, such as its quality class
and number of square feet.

Covenant

A covenant is a promise written into a legal agreement (such as a deed) that

parties
to abide by or refrain from certain acts. A deed restriction is a special kind of
binds the

covenant.

Declaration:
Declaraiion

A term occasionally used to designate a property list filed by a taxpayer.

of Restrictions-A set of recorded restrictions that applies to a specific area or

subdivision.
The total number of specific items present within a designated unit of area.

Density:

Loss in value of an object, relative to iis replacement cost new, reproduction cost

Depreciation:

new, or original cost, whatever the cause of the loss in value. Depreciation is sometimes
subdivided into three types: physical deterioration (wear and tear), functional obsolescence
(suboptimal design in light of current technologies or tastes), and economic obsolescence (poor
location or radically diminished demand for the product).

Book:

An accounting term referring to the total accruals recorded on the books of the
Depreciation,
owner of property summarizing the systematic and periodic expenses charged toward amortizing
the investment of limited-life property over its expected life.

of

depreciation that can be reversed by correcting deferred

Depreciation, Curable: That part
maintenance and by remodeling to relieve functional obsolescence. See also cost to cure.
Depreciation, Econornic: (1) Depreciation due either (a)to an increase in supply of the
property under consideration or (b) to a reduction in monetary demand for properties of the type
under consideration unaccompanied by shifts in demand from such properties to other properties
and/or personal services (preferred). (2) Depreciation of any sort other than physical
depreciation. Note: A depression is accompanied by economic depreciation of the type indicated
in 1(b) becauseof a generaldecline in purchasing power. Depressions arealso accompanied by
obsolescence because of changes in the relative distribution of purchasing power. Contrast
depreciation, physical ; obsolescence.
Depreciation, Functional: Synonymous with the preferred term obsolescence.

percentage of original or
Depreciation, Observed: The amount of depreciaiion, expressed as
of
the property.
of
an
actual
inspection
reproduction cost new, estimated on the basis
Depreciation, Physical: Depreciation arising solely from a lowered physical condition of the property or a
shortened life span as the result of ordinary use, abuse, and action of the elements.
Depreciation, Structural: Synonymous with the preferred term physical depreciation.
Depreciation in Accounting: (1) tn accounting, a method providing for systematic allocation or recovery of
cost over an asset life. (2) ln appraisal, a loss of market value of an asset relative to its cost.
Depreciation may stem from any cause that results in aciual loss.

Depreciation Schedules: Tables used in mass appraisal that show the typical loss in value at various
ages or effective ages for different types of properties.
Dispersion:

The degree to which data are distributed either tightly or loosely around a

measure of central tendency. Measures of dispersion include the average deviation, coefficient
of dispersion, coefficient of variation, range, and standard deviation.
Economic Area:
A geographic area, typically encompassing a group of neighborhoods, defined on
the basis that the properties within its boundaries are more or less equally subject to a set of one
or more economic forces that largely determine the value of the properties in question.

The process by which an appropriate governmental body attempts to ensure that

Equalization:
all property under its jurisdiction is assessed at the same assessment ratio or at the ratio or ratios
required by law. Equalization may be undertaken at many different levels. Equalization among
use classes (such as agricultural and industrial property) may be undertaken at the local level, as
may equalization among properties in a school district and a transportation district; equalization
among counties is usually undertaken by the state to ensure that its aid payments are distributed
fairly.

Equity:

(1) In assessment, the degree to which assessments bear

consistent

relationship to market value. Measures include the coefficient of dispersion, coefficient of

variation, and price-related differential. See also horizontal inequity and vertical inequity. (2) In
popular usage, a synonym for tax fairness. (3) ln ownership, the net value of property after liens
and other charges have been subtracted.

Exemption, Absolute: A complete or total exemption that excludes an entire property from taxation
without regard to its value; a reduction in the property tax base.
Exemption, Homestead:Freedom of part or all of the value of
reduction in the property tax base.

a homestead from property taxation; a

lndustrial: An exemption granted to property used in industrial pursuits as a

means of stimulating industrial development or inducing relocation of plants; a reduction in the
property tax base. See also enterprise zone.

Exemption,

Exemption, lnstitutional:Freedom from the property tax granted to property owned and/or used by
charitable, educational, or religious institutions or agencies, in recognition of the public services
rendered by them; a reduction in the property tax base.
Exemption, Personal: Freedom from the property tax of some or all classes of property in limited or
unlimited arnounts by reason of its ownership by natural persons or particular groups of natural
persons, or persons with certain attributes; a reduction in the property tax base.
Field

Review:

The practice of reviewing the reasonableness of assessments by viewing the

properties in question, sometimes by examining their interiors but more often by looking at their
exteriors

(GlS): (1) A database management system used to store, retrieve,

manipulate, analyze, and display spatial information. (2) One type of computerized mapping
system capable of integrating spatial data (land information) and attribute data among different

Geographic lnformation System

layers

Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM): (1)The factor by which gross rent is multiplied in order to
obtain an estimate of value (2) The ratio between sale price and potential gross income or
effective gross income. By convention, the gross rent multiplier is typically the term used when
developing the relationship based on monthly rent.

A building occupied by the owner of the freehold and his or her family, with the
Homestead:
primary intention of making it their home, together with the parcel of land on which it stands and
the other improvements appurtenant to it. See estate of freehold. Note: This is a term variously
defined by the several states and for several purposes. Most definitions pertain to the exemption
of property from levy and sale and, as such, are not concerned with the nature of the estate that a
householder owns in his or her home. The above definition, which is intended only for purposes

of homestead tax exemption laws, requires further elaboration to indicate what constitutes

family, what constitutes occupancy primarily as a home, how large a parcel of land can be
included as part of the homestead, and what constitutes an improvement appurtenant to the
home. There is as yet no substantial agreement on these points among the states.
Possessing ihe quality of being alike in nature and therefore comparable with
parts
or elements; said of data if two or more sets of data seem to be drawn from
respect to the
population;
also said of data if the data are of the same type (that is, if counts, ranks,
the same

Homogeneous:

and measures are not all mixed in together).

A model that incorporates both additive and multiplicative components' See also
Hybrid Model:
additive model and multiplicative model.

lmprovement:

Anything done to raw land with the intention of increasing its value A structure
erected on the property constitutes one very common type of improvement, although other
actions, such as those taken to improve drainage, are also improvements. Although such cases
are rarely intentional, "improvements" can conceivably diminlsh the value of the land; note,
however, that easements restricting the use and value of land are not considered improvements.
Buildings, other structures, and attachments or annexations to land that are
intended to remain so attached or annexed, such as sidewalks, trees, drives, tunnels, drains, and
sewers. Note: Sidewalks, curbing, sewers, and highways are sometimes referred to as
betterment, but the term improvements is preferred.

lmprovements:

Buildings: A fixed asset account that reflects the acquisition value of

permanent improvements, other than buildings, that add value to land. Examples of such
improvements are fences, retaining walls, sidewalks, pavements, gutters, and tunnels. This
account contains the purchase or contract price; if improvements are obtained by gift, the account
reflects the appraised value at time of acquisition.

lmprovements Oiher than

lmprovement to Land: Designed to enhance a site's utility for general use (fill, water, and wastewater
lines, for example), or to reshape the land's natural contours for more specific use (stock tanks,
for example). Any publicly constructed improvement that does not fulfill a specific use-such as
curbs, gutters, and sidewalks-constitutes an improvementto land.

lncome:

The paymenis to its owner that a property is able to produce in a given time

span, usually a year, and usually net of certain expenses of the property'

lncome

Approach:

One of the three approaches to value, based on the concept that current value is
present
of future benefits to be derived through income production by an asset over the
worth
the

remainder

of its economic life. The

income approach uses capitalization

to conveft the

anticipated benefits of the ownership of property into an estimate of present value.

lncome Capiialization: The process of dividing a property's net annual income by a
capitalization rate in order to arrive at an estimated value.

The premium paid for the use of money; a (rate of) return on capital; the
equilibrium price in money markeis. The interest rate usually incorporates a risk factor, an
illiquidity factor, a time-preference factor, an inflation factor, and potentially, other factors.

lnterest (lnterest Rate):

(1) The group of personal property items whose value is exhibited by value in
Inventory:
exchange, that is, ownership is solely for the purpose of sale rather than use. (2) ln general, any
detailed list showing quantities and descriptions, and usually values or prices, of property. (3)
Frequently used in the plural form to designate all types of current, physical assets that are
customarily listed by quantities, descriptions, and values or prices for regular accounting
purposes; for example, raw rnaterials, goods in process, finished goods, office supplies, stores.
(4) Occasionally (for example, in Vermont), a tax list.
(1) The right and power to interpret and apply the law; also, the power to tax and
Jurisdiction:
the power to govern. (2) The territorial range of authority or control.

Land:

('l) ln economics, the surface of the earth and all the natural resources and
naturalproductive powers overwhich possession of the earth's surface gives man control. (2) ln
law, a portion of the earih's surface, together with the earth below it, the space above it, and all

things annexed thereto by nature or by man.

Lease:

A written contract by which the lessor (owner) transfers the rights to occupy and

use real or personal property to another (lessee) for a specified time in return for a specified
payment (rent).

Deseription:

Delineation of dimensions, boundaries, and relevant attributes of a real property

parcel that serve to identify the parcel for all purposes of law. The description may be in words or
codes, such as metes and bounds or coordinates (see coordinate system). For a subdivided lot,
the legal description would probably include lot and block numbers and subdivision name.

Legal

Appraisal:

Level of

The common, or overall, ratio of appraised values to market

values.

Three

concepts are usually of interesl the level required by law, the true or actual level, and the
computed level, based on a ratio study.

Regression: A kind

of statistical analysis used to investigate whether a dependent variable

and a set of one or more independent variables share a linear correlation and, if they do, to
predict the value of the dependent variable on the basis of the values of the other variables.
Regression analysis of one dependent variable and only one independent variable is called
simple linear regression, but it is the word simple (not linear) that distinguishes it from multiple
regression analysis with its multiple independent variables.
An adjustment io replacement or reproduction cost new or historic cost, to reflect
Local Multiplier:

Linear

local costs.

The numerical or other identification of a point (or object) sufficiently precise so

the point can be situated. For example, the location of a point on a plane can be specified by a
pair of numbers (plane coordinates) and the location of a point in space can be specified by a set
of three numbers (space coordinates). However, location may also be specified in other terms
than coordinates. A location may be specified as being at ihe intersection of two specific lines by
identifying it with some prominent and known feature

Location:

Variable: A variable, such as the distance to the nearest commercial district or the traffic
count on an adjoining street, that seeks to measure the contribution of locational factors to the

Location

total property value.

Map,

Planimetric: A map that shows only the horizontal

positions of the features represented.

A map drawn to scale and delineated for lot lines or property lines or both, with
Map, Tax:
dimensions or areas and identifying numbers, letters, or names for all delineated lots or parcels.
Map,

map showing the horizontal and vertical locations of natural and artificial
features. lt is distinguished from a planimetric map by the presence of quantitative symbols

Topographic: A
showing the relief.

Market

(1) The topical area of common interest in which buyers and sellers interact. (2)
of buyers and sellers for a particular product.
body
collective
The

Marketability:

The salability of a property at a specific time, price, and terms.

Market Adjustment Factors: Market adjustment factors, reflecting supply and demand
preferences, are often required to adjust values obtained from the cost approach to the market.
These adjustments should be applied by type of property and area and are based on sales ratio
studies or other market analyses. Accurate cost schedules, condition ratings, and depreciation
schedules will minimize the need for market adjustment factors'
Market Analysis:

A study of real estate market conditions for a specific type of property.

A valuation term with several meanings. ln its broadest use, it might denote any
viluation procedure intended to produce an estimate of market value, or any valuation procedure
that incorporates market-derived data, such as the stock and debt technique, gross rent multiplier
method, and allocation by ratio. In its narrowest use, it might denote the sales comparison

MarketApproach:

approach.

The price a particular buyer and seller agree

Market Price:
amount actually paid. Compare market value'
Market

to in a particular transaction; the

The rent currently prevailing in the market for properties comparable to the
subject property. Market rent is capitalized into an estimate of value in the income approach.

Rent

Market value is the major focus of most real property appraisal assignments.
Market Value:
Both economic and legal definitlons of market value have been developed and refined. A current
economic definition agreed upon by agencies that regulate federal financial institutions in the
United States is:
The rnost probable price (in terms of money) which a property should bring in a

competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller
each acting prudently and knowledgeabty, and assuming the price is not affected by undue
stimulus. lmplicit in this definition is the consummation of a sale as of a specified date and the
passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby: The buyer and seller are
iypically motivated; Both parties are well informed or well advised, and acting in what they
Consider their best interests; A reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market;
Payment is made in terms of cash in United States dollars or in terms of financial arrangements
comparable thereto; The price represents the normal consideration for the property sold
unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions granted by anyone associated
with the sale.

The process of valuing a group of properties as of a given date, using standard

Mass Appraisal:
methods, employing common data, and allowing for statistical testing.
Mass Appraisal
market.

Model: A mathematical expression of how supply and demand factors interact in a

Mean:

A measure of central tendency. The result of adding all the values of a variable
and dividing by the numberof values. Forexample, the mean of 3, 5, and 10 is 1B divided by 3,
or 6. Also called arithmetic mean.

Median:

A measure of central tendency, The value of the middle item in an uneven

number of items arranged or arrayed according to size; the arithmetic average of the two central
items in an even number of items similarly arranged; a positional average that is not affected by
the size of extreme values.

ModelCalibration: The development

of

adjustments,

or

coefficients based

on

market

analysis, that identifies specific factors with an actual effect on market value.
Model

Specification: The formal development of a model in a statement or equation, based on data

analysis and appraisal theory.

Multiple Regression, Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA): A particular statisiical

technique, similar to correlation, used to analyze data in order to predict the value of one variable
(the dependent variable), such as market value, from the known values of other variables (called
"independent variables"), such as lot size, number of rooms, and so on. lf only one independent
variable is used, the procedure is called simple regression analysis and differs from correlation
analysis only in that correlation measures the strength of relationship, whereas regression
predicts the value of one variable from the value of the other. When two or more variables are
used, the procedure is called multiple regression analysis. See linear regression.

Neighborhood:

(1) The environment of a subject property that has a direct and imrnediate effect

on value. (2) A geographic area (in which there are typically fewer than several thousand

properties) defined for some useful purpose, such as to ensure for later multiple regression
modeling that the properties are homogeneous and share important locational characteristics.
Neighborhood Analysis: A study of the relevant forces
boundaries of a homogenous area.

that influence property values within

the

Operating Expenses: Expenses necessary to maintain the flow of income from a property. These are
deducted from effective gross income to obtain net operating income, which is then capitalized in
the income approach to obtain an indication of market value. Such expenses generally include

the costs of property insurance; heat, water, and other utilities; repairs and

maintenance;

replacement reserves for such items as heat and air-conditioning systems, water heaters, built-in

appliances, elevators, roofing, floor coverings, and other items whose economic life will explre
before that of the structure itself; management; and other miscellaneous items necessary to
operate and maintain the property. Not considered operating expenses are depreciation charges,

debt service, income taxes, capiial improvements, and personal or business expenses of the
owner, ln addition, for assessrnent purposes, property taxes are usually treated as an adjustment
to the capitalization rate rather than as an expense item.
Ordinance:
A statute or law that designates
corporation's leg islative body.

Outliers:

an enactment by a county's or

municipal

Observations that have unusual values, that is, they differ markedly from

measure of central tendency. Some outliers occur naturally; others are due to data errors.
The rights to the use of property, to the exclusion of others.

Ownership:

Parameter:

Numerical descriptive measure of the population, for example, the arithmetic

mean or standard deviation. Parameters are generally unknown and estimated from statistics

calculated from a sample of the population.

Parcel ldentification Number: A numeric or alphanumeric description of a parcel that
identifies it uniquely. Assessors use various systems, many with common features. A growing
number of these systems include geocoding. ln the thirty states where it exists, the Public Land
Survey System, authorized by the United States government in 1785, is often a basis for parcel
identification.

Attempting to determine the workability of a system by testing it under realistic

operating conditions before adopting it and abandoning the former system.

Pilot Testing:

Price-Related Differential (PRD): The mean divided by the weighted mean. The statistic has a slight bias
upward. Price-related differentials above 1.03 tend to indicate assessment regressivity; pricerelated differentials below 0.98 tend to indicate assessment progressivity.
Productivity

Value:

Productivity value measures

the worth

of land based on its

income-

producing ability in its current use. Owners of farm and ranch property apply for
agricultural-use or open-space valuation (both are forms of productivity value) to avoid having
their properiies assessed at a different highest and best use that would bring higher assessed

values and presumably higher taxes.

(1)An aggregate of things or rights to things. These rights are protected by law. There
Property:
are two basic types of property: real and personal. (2) The legal interesi of an owner in a parcel
or thing (see bundle of rights).
Real Property: Consists of the interests, benefits, and rights inherent in the ownership of land
plus anything permanently attached to the land or legally defined as immovable; the bundle of
rights with which ownership of real estate is endowed. To the extent that real estate commonly
includes land and any permanent improvements, the two terms can be understood to have the
same meaning. Also called "realty."
Personal Property: Consists of every kind of property that is not real property; movable
without damage to itself or the real estate; subdivided into tangible and intangible. Also called

"personalty."

Tangible Personal Property: Personal property that has a substantial physical

presence beyond merely representational. lt differs from real property in its capacity to be
ielocated. Common examples of iangible personal property are automobiles, boats, and jewelry'
lntangible Personal Property: Property that has no physical existence beyond merely representational,
nor any extrinsic value; includes rights over tangible real and personal property, but not rights of
use and possession. lts value lies chiefly in what it represents. Examples include corporate

stock, bonds, money on deposit, goodwill, restrictions on activities (for example, patents and
trademarks), and franchises. Note: Thus, in taxation, the rights evidenced by outstanding

corporation stocks and bonds constitute intangible property of the security holders because they
are claims against the assets owned and income received by the corporation rather than by the
stockholders and bondholders; interests in partnerships, deeds, and the like are not ordinarily
considered intangible property for tax purposes because they are owned by the same persons
who
own the assets and receive the income to which they attach.
Property Use Category: A United States Census Bureau classification scheme based on actual utilization
of real property. There are seven classes of real property:
Residential (Nonfarm) Single-Family-lncludes each detached, semidetached, or
attached house, if separately assessed and not on a farm, that is a residence for one family only.
For detached houses, this would include one-family rural properties or suburban estates not used
primarily for farming, and mobile homes assessed as real property. This category includes each

condominium unit

in a multiunit dwelling structure, plus each

condominium's share

of

the

common area, unless the common area is separately assessed.

Residential (Nonfarm), Multifamily: lncludes each residential property that contains two or more

living units, including duplexes, apartment houses, and cooperatives that are assessed as a
single entity. The category encompasses street level stores and doctors' offices in apartment
buildings, but excludes motels or hotels.

Acreage (or Acreage and Farms): lncludes farms, timberland, recreational acreage, idle land,
and waste land in rural locations. Excludes vacant platted lots that lie within or adjacent to a

municipality and

that usually carry

loVblock system designation rather than acreage.

Separately assessed timber or mineral rights are omitted from this category.

Lots:

Unimproved parcels described in terms other than acreage, usually by a

convention using lot, block, and subdivision name. Vacant platted lots are often located either
within a municipality or in areas of higher population density than the surrounding territory.
Vacant Platted

Commercial

Property:

Generally any non-industrial, nonresidential realty of a

commercial enterprise. lncludes realty used as a retail or wholesale establishment, retail

establishment with living quarters, office building, hotel or motel, gasoline service station,
commercial garage, parking lot, warehouse, theater, bank, clinic, nursing home, proprietary
school, and the like.

lndustrial Property: Generally any property used in a manufacturing activity,

ncluding a factory, wholesale bakery, dairy plant, food processing plant, mill, mine, quarry, all
locally assessed utility property, and the like.
Other and Unallocable: lncludes any property not classified within any of the
preceding groups. Examples are mineral rights, timber rights, and oil rights, if they are separately
assessed as real estate.

Ratio Study:

A study of the relationship between appraised or assessed values and market

values. lndicators of market values may be either sales (sales ratio study) or

independent

"experi" appraisals (appraisal ratio study). Of common interest in ratio studies are the level and
uniformity of the appraisals or assessments. See also level of appraisal and level of assessment.

Reappraisal:

The mass appraisal

of all

property within

an

accomplished within or at the beginning of a reappraisal cycle (sense

or reassessment.

assessment jurisdiction

2). Also called revaluation

Cycle:

(1) The period of time necessary for a jurisdiction to have a complete reappraisal.
For example, a cycle of five years occurs when one-fifth of a jurisdiction is reappraised each year
and also when a jurisdiction is reappraised allat once every five years. (2) The maximurn interval
between reappraisals as stated in laws.

Reappraisal

Reassessment:
(1) The relisting and revaluation of all property, or all property of a given class,
within an assessment district by order of an authorized officer or body after a finding by such an

or body that the original

assessment is too faulty for correction through the usual

(2) The revaluation of all real property by the regularly
constituted assessing authorities, as distinguished from assessment on the basis of valuations

officer

procedures of review and equalization.

most or all of which were established in some prior year. See also revaluation.

A term occasionally used synonymously with declaration

Rendition:

Replacement Cost; Replacement Cost New: The cost, including material, labor, and
overhead, that would be incurred in constructing an improvement having the same utility to its
owner as a subject improvement, without necessarily reproducing exactly any particular
characteristics of the subject. The replacement cost concept implicitly eliminates all functional
obsolescence from the value given; thus only physical depreciation and economic obsolescence
need to be subtracted to obtain replacement cost new less depreciation (RCNLD).
Revaluation:
A reappraisal of property; especially a complete reappraisal of real property after
assessment for one or more years on valuations most (or all) of which were established in some
prior year. Compare reassessment and reappraisal.
Sales Ratio/Assessment Ratio: The ratio of an appraised (or assessed) value to the sale price or adjusted
sale price of a property. See also assessment to sale price ratio.
Sales Ratio

Study:

A ratio study that uses sales prices as proxies for market values.

Tables, equations, or some other means of presenting the relationship between

the values of two or more variables that are functionally related. For example, cost schedules
present the relationship between cost per square foot and living area for a number of quality

Schedules:

classes, building heights, and other characteristics.

Deviation: The siatistic calculated from a set of numbers by subtracting the mean frorn each
value and squaring the remainders, adding together all the squares, dividing by the size of the
sample less one, and taking the square root of the result. When the data are normally distributed,
one can calculate the percentage of observations within any number of standard deviations of the

Standard

mean from normal probability tables. When the data are not normally
distributed, the standard deviation is less meaningful, and one should proceed cautiously.
Tax, Ad

Valorem:

A tax levied on a base that is measured by value. Note: This term is often used
property
only
taxes or to general property taxes, although technically it is applicable to
to
to refer
income taxes, ad valorem tariffs, special property taxes, and so on. Contrast tax, specific.

Taxable value is the appraised value minus all applicable partial exemptions
Taxable Value:
Property taxes are levied on taxable value.
Three Approaches to Value: A convenient way to group the various methods of appraising a property.
The cost approach encompasses several methods for estimating replacement cost new of an
improvement less depreciation plus land value. The sales comparison approach estimates
values by comparison with similar properties for which sales prices are known. The methods
included in the income approach are based on the assumption that value equals the present
worih of the rights to future income.

Tirne-Adjusied Sale Price: The price at which a property sold, adjusted for the effects of price changes
reflected in the market between the date of sale and the date of analysis.

Trending:

Adjusting the values of a variable for the effects of time. Usually used to refer to
idjustments of assessments intended to reflect the effects of inflation and deflation and
sometimes also, but not necessarily, the effects of changes in the demand for microlocational
goods and services.

Factor:

A figure representing the increase in cost or selling price over a period of time.
Trending
Trending accounts for the relative difference in the value of a dollar between two periods.

Uniformity:

The equality of the burden of taxation in the method of assessment.

of Professional Appraisal Practice-Annual publication of the Appraisal
Standards Board of The Appraisal Foundation: These Standards deal with the procedures to be
followed in performing an appraisal, review or consulting service and the manner in which an
appraisal, review or consulting service is communicated. . . .STANDARD 6 sets forth criteria for
the developrnent and reporting of mass appraisals for ad valorern tax purposes or any other

Liniform Standards

universe of properties" (p. 1).

a method that values the property within a particular

jurisdiction based on the fair share of the value of an operating enterprise, of which the property is
an integral part. The unit value concept values all the property as a going concern without
geographical or functional division of the whole and includes tangible and intangible assets. The
unit rule concept is typically associated with the valuation of public utilities, telecommunications
networks, railroads, and other transpoftaiion properties. However, the concept of unit valuation is
similarly applicable to the appraisal of a single-family residence when comparable sales are used

Unitary Method of Valuation: The unit rule is

to value the entire property without segregation of land values. Similarly, when rents

are

capitalized into a value estimate for commercial properties, the unit rule is used.

Method: A method of cost estimating in which all the direct and some of the indirect costs
of indlvidual construction components (such as the foundation walls) are specified in appropriate
units (such as cost per unit of area, volume, or length), multiplied by an estimate of the quantity
required by the particular structure, and added to obtain an estimate of the cost of the structure.

Unit-in-Place

Compare comparative unit method (sense 2); quantity survey meihod.

Vacancy and Collection Loss: The amount of money deducted from potential annual gross income

Value:

(1) The relationship between an object desired and a potentialowner; the characteristics
of scarcity, utiliiy, desirability, and transferability must be present for value to exist. (2) Value may
also be described as the present worth of future benefits arising frorn the ownership of real or
personal property. (3) The estimaie sought in a valuation. (4) Any number between positive
infinity and negative infinity.

Weighted Mean; Weighted Average: An average in which each value is adjusted by a factor reflecting its
relative importance in the whole before the values are summed and divided by their number.
Weighted Mean Ratio: Sum of the appraised values divided by the sum
weights each value in proportion to its sale price.

of the sales prices, which

APPEI{DIX G

MASS APPRAISAL REPORTS

APPE,I\TDIX H

ANI{UAL REPORTS